ROCKY MOUNT - A Franklin County kindergarten teacher was twice denied bond Wednesday in a murder-for-hire case in which police say her ex-husband was the unwitting target.

Wearing shackles and an orange jumpsuit, Angela Nolen, 47, of Moneta, testified that she wanted bond to prepare for her upcoming legal battle.

"I have a lot of things to take care of," she said, her voice low and quivering. "I have to get my finances in order."

The Sontag Elementary School teacher was arrested Feb. 19 along with her friend and co-worker, school nurse Cathy Bennett, 37, of Rocky Mount. Nolen faces one count of soliciting to kill a person. Bennett was charged with conspiracy to solicit to kill a person.

State police have said Nolen approached an undercover agent who was posing as a hit man. In court, Franklin County Commonwealth's Attorney Tim Allen said authorities had "damning" evidence against the teacher, stemming from when she met the undercover agent in a Lowe's parking lot. State police have said Nolen was prepared to pay $8,000 to kill 63-year-old Paul Strickler, a retired Franklin County school administrator.

"Ms. Nolen left that meeting and went to a bank," Allen said. "She has indicated that she did participate in this transaction and she expressed remorse for doing so."

Court records show Strickler and Nolen finalized their divorce in December 2012. At the time of her arrest, Nolen had a two-year protective order filed against her former husband. The pair have a 7-year-old adopted daughter, though a court had granted Nolen full custody of that child. The girl is currently living with her maternal grandparents, Nolen testified.

Defense attorney David Furrow argued that Nolen's lack of a criminal history and many community connections made her a good candidate for bond.

"Ms. Nolen, have you ever been in any kind of trouble before?" he asked.

"Never," she said.

"Have you ever been in jail?"

"No," she said, her voice wavering.

But Allen said the felony charge was a serious one, and that her release would pose unnecessary risk.

"We're concerned about someone coming into harm," Allen said. "Obviously, if it had not been an undercover officer, we might be here under different circumstances."

Judge George Jones ruled in Allen's favor, calling the case "most disturbing." As he delivered his decision, Nolen looked to a handful of people who had come to court to support her and started to cry.

Furrow appealed Jones' decision and scheduled a hearing for later Wednesday.

At that hearing, Circuit Court Judge William Alexander upheld Jones' prior ruling.

"I don't think you're a danger to the community, in general," he said, "but certainly there is a danger to the intended victim in this case."

Alleged co-conspirator Bennett, meanwhile, was released from jail Friday after making a $75,000 bond set by a judge earlier in the day.

Bennett was instructed by a judge to stay away from Sontag Elementary School and her co-workers. She also has a curfew, one that would have her home by 9:30 p.m. but still allow her to work as a nurse at a Carilion Clinic facility near her home in Rocky Mount.

Both women have been suspended from their jobs with the school system pending the outcome of the criminal charges against them. They are scheduled to appear in court for preliminary hearings March 21.

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