Acclaimed counselor pleads guilty to sexual exploitation of children
This story references sexual crimes against children. Resources have been included.
A former Poudre School District counselor accused of sexually assaulting a high school student "more than 100 times" over three and a half years pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children on July 24.
Cassandra Poncelow, now 41, was arrested in August 2025 after a former student reported to Fort Collins Police Services that Poncelow had an inappropriate relationship with her while Poncelow worked at Poudre School District. Another individual later came forward with similar accusations against Poncelow, though that victim is not related to Poncelow's employment with the school district.
Both victims were juveniles at the time of the allegations but are now adults, according to police.
Poncelow previously pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust as a pattern of abuse, a Class 3 felony; aggravated sexual assault on a client by a psychotherapist, a Class 4 felony; sexual assault, a Class 4 felony; and a crime of violence sentence enhancer. Those charges were dismissed by the 8th Judicial District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin's office as part of a plea agreement, and a jury trial set to begin Aug. 24 was vacated.
As part of the agreement, Poncelow pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of children, a Class 3 felony. District attorney's office spokesperson Kylie Massman told the Coloradoan the penalty range for each count will be four to 16 years in the Department of Corrections but that the agreement calls for those sentences to run consecutively, which means Poncelow is facing eight to 32 years in prison.
After she is released from prison, Poncelow will be on sex offender intensive probation for 10 years, Massman said, with conditions including:
No contact with any children under the age of 18 years old.
Registering as a sex offender.
Registering all use of internet-cable devices.
Poncelow's sentencing hearing is set for 10 a.m. Oct. 26.
Poudre School District timeline
Poncelow worked for PSD between 2007 and 2024, Fort Collins Police Services previously said.
Poudre School District spokesperson John Cope previously provided the Coloradoan a timeline of where Poncelow worked during her time with the district:
2007: Webber Middle School
2007-2008: Rocky Mountain High School
Summer of 2008: Irish Elementary School
2008-2011: Rocky Mountain High School
2011-2013: Fort Collins High School
Summer of 2013: Lincoln Middle School
2013-2014: Poudre High School and Lincoln Middle School
2014-2015: Poudre High School, Lincoln Middle School and Irish Elementary School
2015-2018: Poudre High School
2018-2019: Poudre High School and Cache la Poudre Middle School
2019-2024: Poudre High School
2023-2024: Career Tech Center
Poncelow was named the 2016 Colorado Counselor of the Year by the Colorado School Counseling Association and was a finalist for the American School Counselor of the Year in 2018.
Resources for sexual abuse victims
The SAVA Center provides crisis intervention, advocacy and counseling for those affected by sexual abuse in Northern Colorado, as well as prevention programs through community outreach and education. Call the Fort Collins location at 970-472-4204 or the Loveland location at 970-775-2962.
Alternatives to Violence provides shelter and other resources for people impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Call 970-669-5150 or text 970-669-5157.
Estes Valley Crisis Advocates provides a variety of free and confidential services to survivors of crimes and traumas. Call 970-577-9781 or text 513-970-3822.
SummitStone Health Partners provides counseling for psychological, emotional and behavioral problems; domestic violence and sexual abuse victims; and drug and alcohol problems. It offers individual, group and family therapy. Call 970-494-4200.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Acclaimed counselor pleads guilty to sexual exploitation of children