KY teacher arrested after student said the teacher showed her nude photos on her phone

An Allen County-Scottsville High School teacher was arrested Tuesday on a charge of distributing obscene matter to minors, a misdemeanor, according to online court records.

An officer with the Allen County Sheriff’s office said in a citation he was conducting an investigation at the high school involving teacher Kerston Raines, 25, and another staff member when he was informed that Raines had shown a student a nude photo.

The student told the officer Raines had shown her a text message between Raines and a male teacher that included nude photos, the citation said.

Raines told the officer that nude photos had been exchanged between her and the male teacher and that the student could have seen the photos on her laptop, which is synced to her phone while she is at school, the citation said.

Raines said she does leave her laptop open and students have the opportunity to look at it, according to the citation. She also told the officer that students access her phone while selecting what music to listen to in class.

Raines told the officer she never intentionally showed any student the pictures.

‘With Raines knowing the photos were on her phone and that these photos were synced to her personal laptop at school, she had knowledge that students may be able to easily access the images,” the citation said.

Raines was released from the Allen County Detention Center on bond.

“We are aware of a situation involving an employee of Allen County Schools,” Allen County Superintendent Travis Hamby said in an email to the Herald-Leader Wednesday.

“The district takes such matters seriously and is currently gathering information. While the individual has not yet been available for comment, the employee will be placed on leave pending further investigation, in accordance with district policies.”

Hamby added: “Because this is a personnel matter, and out of respect for the individual’s rights and due process, we are unable to provide additional details at this time.”

A bill pushing for more disclosure about teachers accused of sexual misconduct failed to pass in the recently 2025 legislative session.

The 2025 session is the third year Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, has filed an omnibus teacher sexual misconduct bill. Despite widespread support from most education groups and never receiving a “no” vote in committees or on the House or Senate floor in three years, House Bill 36 did not pass.

Tipton initially filed the bill in 2023 after a 2022 Herald-Leader investigation found sexual misconduct was the leading reason teachers lost their licenses.

This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 4:30 AM.