HODGENVILLE, Ky. — A former Kentucky middle school teacher is facing federal charges involving minors, the US attorney's office announced Monday.
Robert Alan Thompson, 33, of Hodgenville, Kentucky has been charged wtih online enticement of a minor and production of child pornography. Thompson is a former middle school teacher in both Franklin and Hardin counties.
According to the Complaint Affidavit, following execution of a state search warrant, Thompson told investigators that he received two pictures of teen boys ages 13 and 14 from Matthew Lyons.
According to the US attorney, Lyons was charged in April 2020 on several child exploitation offenses, including sex trafficking of a child, online enticement, and attempted production of child pornography.
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During a forensic search of Thompson's phone, investigators say a detective with the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office Department of Criminal Investigation discovered Thompson’s social media discussions with a minor. A further investigation revealed that the child was one of Thompson’s former middle school students. Investigators say Thompson urged the student to send him sexually explicit images and the child complied.
Hardin County fired Thompson following his arrest on related state charges in April.
The online enticement charge carries penalties of not less than 10 years and not more than life in prison. The production of child pornography charge carries a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison. A conviction under either or both charge also involves fines and Supervised Release of at least five years and could be any number of years up to an including life.
The Kentucky Office of Attorney General, Department of Criminal Investigations, with assistance from the United States Secret Service, Kentucky State Police, and Radcliffe Police Department, conducted the investigation.
