A Chelan woman, 48-year-old Amanda Sue Austin has been sentenced to six months in jail for distributing explicit photos of a minor at Eastmont Junior High. The sentencing includes primarily work release, with a mandatory 10-day jail term.
Reports from East Wenatchee detectives indicate that in March 2021, Austin unlawfully entered the junior high accompanied by a juvenile relative. They proceeded to circulate sexually explicit pictures of a former friend of the minor. In Douglas County Superior Court, Austin pleaded guilty to felony harassment, disclosing intimate images, and first-degree criminal trespass.
A plea agreement resulted in a suggested six-month sentence, involving work release, and a 5-year no-contact directive with the victim. Judge Brian Huber concurred with this proposal but mandated Austin to spend an additional 10 days in jail, citing concerns about the victim's well-being and the need to send a strong message. Work release enables incarceration while permitting daytime employment.
The victim's guardian, Jocelyn Dunn, conveyed her disappointment, deeming a lenient sentence hurtful to her daughter. Austin had initially faced more severe charges including child pornography accusations but these were modified.
The minor accomplice pleaded guilty in November 2022, receiving a five-day detention term, 96 hours of community service, and a yearlong no-contact mandate. In exchange, certain charges were dropped.