Former Paris teacher now facing federal charges

By Shawntaye Hopkins - shopkins@herald-leader.com

PARIS — A former high school teacher is facing federal child pornography charges after police say they found about two dozen child pornography videos on a compact disc in his vehicle.

The criminal complaint, filed last week in U.S. District Court, says Kenneth R. Shadoan "did knowingly possess one or more visual depictions that had been mailed, shipped or transported in interstate commerce" and included a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. A federal arrest warrant was issued the same day.

Shadoan, 30, of Carlisle was arrested on May 13 by Paris police on a warrant. He was charged with 25 counts of possession of matter portraying sexual performance by a minor.

The arrest came two days after Paris police received a complaint from a parent about inappropriate communication between Shadoan and her 17-year-old son, said Paris police Lt. Jeffrey Lizer. Paris police recovered 21 CDs from Shadoan's Chevrolet pickup truck, and one of the CDs contained more than 25 videos of child pornography, according to an arrest warrant filed in Bourbon District Court.

Shadoan, who has pleaded not guilty to charges, appeared in Bourbon Circuit Court on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing. But the hearing was postponed until June 17.

Shadoan taught at Paris High School about three years. His contract has been terminated, according to court documents.

In August 2005, he was charged with first-degree sodomy in Whitley County after he was accused of having deviant sexual intercourse with an adult male by forcible compulsion; the alleged victim was 18, said Allen Trimble, Commonwealth's Attorney for Whitley and McCreary counties. He was acquitted in May 2006. Shadoan was a teacher with Pulaski County schools from 2002 until 2005, said Steve Butcher, assistant school superintendent in Pulaski County. Shadoan was fired after Kentucky State Police notified school officials about the charge against him. Paris Independent Schools contacted Butcher when Shadoan was seeking a job there, Butcher said. He said he told Paris officials about the charge and declined to recommend him for the job.

No one with Paris Independent Schools was available to comment for this story Wednesday.

Herald-Leader staff writer Bill Estep contributed to this story. Shawntaye Hopkins covers Bourbon County. Reach her at (502)867-1354.

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