Rickey Charles Willis Jr., 42, pleaded guilty to failure to report child abuse and was released from jail on Thursday. 

Willis was arrested and charged in October after failing to report a close family member was receiving explicit pictures from his fiancé, Shawna Coates, 31. According to the warrant, Willis was made aware of the photographs which were reportedly sent through Snapchat between Coates and the alleged victim. Willis did not report the incident; therefore, he was charged with violation of duty to report child sexual abuse.

In General Sessions Court on Thursday, Willis pleaded guilty after reaching an agreement. He was sentenced to 11 months 29 days time served with the balance on probation. He was ordered to pay court costs and is also on probation with CPS. He was released from jail on Thursday because he has already served 29 days in jail. 

“We wanted to put on the record that this is not a best-interest plea. This is explicitly a guilty plea,” said attorney Daniel Barnes. 

Coates, the woman accused of sending the nude photographs to the minor, also appeared in court on Thursday. She was arrested and charged with exploitation of a minor by electronic means on Oct. 18. According to the warrant, on or about Aug. 2 through 10, Coates sent nude photographs “exposing her breast and vagina to a minor victim through the Snapchat app.” The minor was born in 2006 making them 17-years-old. Coates then allegedly requested the minor victim send nude photographs of themselves. The photographs of the minor were sent to Coates on Snapchat.

Coates was scheduled to have a trial on Thursday, but her attorney, Amanda Gentry, informed the court via email she is still waiting on a mental evaluation of Coates. Coates will appear in court again at a later date.