UPDATE: Central Kentucky high school cross country coach arrested on sex charge

Kentucky State Police have arrested the cross country coach at Bourbon County High School on a sex charge and a charge of having unlawful transaction with a minor.

Matthew S. Perraut, of Bourbon County, was charged with one count of sodomy third-degree and one count of unlawful transaction with a minor first-degree, Kentucky State Police said Saturday in a news release.

Perraut is listed in KHSAA records as the cross country coach at Bourbon County High School. Kentucky State Police public information officer David P. Jones confirmed Perraut was the coach.

Bourbon County Superintendent Amy Baker said Sunday night that the Bourbon County School District is committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for all students.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of allegations of one of our employees. Coach Matt Perraut has been suspended from all of his duties pending ongoing investigations,” she said. “We will offer support, including counseling, for our students and families that may have been impacted by these allegations.”

“Matt Perraut is not a teacher. Charges against Mr. Perraut have been confirmed by the Kentucky State Police,” she said.

An arrest warrant filed in Bourbon Circuit Court alleged that in 2015, Perraut took two male members of the Bourbon County High Cross Country team to an adult woman’s home. Perraut and the two juveniles had sex with the woman, the warrant alleged. The warrant also alleged that Perraut had sexual contact with one of juveniles.

The arrest warrant said the unlawful transaction with a minor charge involved an illegal sex act.

Bourbon County Detention Center officials, where Perraut was jailed, said he had been released by Saturday morning.

Perraut’s attorney told a detective that he did not want to make a statement but wanted to meet at a later date.

This story was originally published October 22, 2022 at 10:53 AM.