A former counselor has pleaded guilty to a charge of having sexual contact with a 13-year-old student at Three Springs, a troubled youth home that was previously located in Madison.

Amanda Shantay Williams faces up to 20 years in prison for the charge of second-degree sodomy. Madison County Circuit Judge Donna Pate will sentence her later this year.

Williams, a 30-year-old from Huntsville, took a “blind plea,” meaning she hadn’t reached a prearranged deal with the prosecutor regarding her sentence

Defense attorney Robin Wolfe said Williams, who doesn’t have any prior criminal history, is a viable candidate for a probation sentence, rather than prison time. Williams is a single mother working to provide for her family, Wolfe said, though she’s no longer working with children.

“She hopes the court will see that she’s taking responsibility for her actions,” Wolfe told AL.com. “She’s remorseful, she’s embarrassed and she has good family support.”

Regardless of whether she’s sentenced to prison or probation, Williams will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of her life.

Tim Douthit, a Madison County assistant district attorney, said he doesn’t plan to recommend to the judge how many years Williams should spend in prison.

“It’s going to be the judge’s call,” he said.

Williams performed oral sex on a 13-year-old student in June of 2017, Douthit said in court today. At the time, Williams worked at Three Springs, a juvenile home that has since left the city of Madison. Wolfe told AL.com that while Williams’ job title was counselor, she didn’t have any formal training and her duties were more similar to a day-care worker.

“I feel like I shouldn’t have to say this, but don’t have sex with a 13 year old,” Douthit said after today’s court hearing.

Williams was first arrested in July of 2017 on charges of having sexual contact with two students. She was later indicted by a Madison County grand jury on four felony charges: three counts of having sexual contact with students and one count of second-degree sodomy.

As part of her guilty plea on one of the sodomy charges, the prosecutor dismissed the remaining charges.