LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A former Jefferson County Public Schools teacher and baseball coach was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
Kevin O'Donnell, 26, will serve the 10 years in prison then have a 10-year term of supervised released. He messaged with an undercover officer online who he thought was a 14-year-old girl he was trying to have sexual contact with.
O'Donnell traveled to meet up with the 14-year-old but was arrested by federal agents.
He was an Eastern High School baseball pitching coach and a Meyzeek Middle School teacher before he was fired in January 2023.
Records showed O'Donnell had been an Eastern High School coach since 2021 and started teaching at Meyzeek in 2020.
A termination letter dated Jan. 5 explained that JCPS fired O'Donnell on the "basis of immoral character/conduct unbecoming a teacher," WDRB News found through an open records request. The letter said that on Dec. 5, the principal of Eastern High School was approached by the head baseball coach who reported that one or more players alleged that O'Donnell had sent them messages and video that appeared to have male genitalia engaging in sex.
In the messages that JCPS released to WDRB, JCPS said "Kevin" referred to the teacher Kevin O'Donnell and the unidentified parties were one or more members of the baseball team.
This criminal complaint says O'Donnell started an online conversation on Feb. 15 and it continued the next day. He had a brief chat on Omegle, a social media site where users can input interests. They can text or video chat.
Investigators said during the chat, O'Donnell requested they move to Kik, another social media site known for anonymity for users. Investigators said both sites have also been used to try and meet kids for sexual conduct.
O'Donnell was arrested on Feb. 16.
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