UK professor accused of sexual abuse released from home incarceration
A former department chair at the University of Kentucky who faces sexual abuse and sodomy charges had his bond restrictions loosened during a court hearing Thursday morning, releasing him from home incarceration.
Kevin Real, a UK professor of communication who is currently on leave, is now permitted to leave house arrest as long as he stays in Fayette County and avoids certain locations after he was arrested on charges of incest, sexual abuse of a person under the age of 12 and sodomy, according to court records. Real was arrested Sept. 8 on the charges.
According to his arrest citation, Real allegedly sexually abused the victim when they were 6 years old, and again in July 2022.
Fayette District Judge John Tackett changed Real’s release conditions Thursday, and ordered him to continue to be electronically monitored. But is free to move about Fayette County as long as he remains 1,000 feet away from a local high school and the residence of his victim.
At the time of his arrest on Sept. 8, Real’s initial bond was set at $30,000. At his arraignment the following day, the bond was reduced to $15,000, which he paid.
At the time, Real was ordered to remain at home on electronic monitoring with limited releases and have no contact with minors except for his children. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim, an order which is still in place after he was released from house arrest.
Why ex-UK department chair asked for, received looser restrictions
Real’s attorney, Christopher Spedding, asked for looser bond conditions in a motion noting that Real needed to attend his 12-step recovery program, which he has done for 20 years.
Spedding wrote in court records that Real was convicted of bank robbery in the 1980s. He entered addiction treatment at that time and has remained involved in a recovery program ever since, his attorney wrote in court records.
“The defendant is involved in a 12 step program of recovery and home incarceration has made it impossible for him to attend the meetings that have become his way of life for the past 20 plus years,” Spedding wrote in court documents. “The inability to attend these meetings is taking an emotional toll on Dr. Real.”
Court documents say Real is “bewildered” by the charges brought forth against him.
“The allegations that have been made against him have left him bewildered. He strenuously denies that there is any merit to any of the allegations that have been made against him,” court documents state.
Real has been placed on administrative leave from UK, according to university spokesperson Jay Blanton. Real has been an employee at UK since 2002 in several roles, according to his resume. He was hired as assistant professor, and has also been an associate professor and professor in the department of communication. He is 65, according to jail records.
During the court appearance Thursday, Real waived his right to a preliminary hearing. His case will go to a grand jury. The Fayette County Grand Jury will determine whether or not there is enough evidence to indict Real and send his case to circuit court, where a trial could be held.
Reporter Monica Kast contributed to this story.
This story was originally published October 13, 2022 at 9:29 AM.
