A 38-year-old South Central High School teacher has been arrested for grooming and traveling to meet a minor.
Shane Lother of Edgewood Road was taken into custody at his home on Friday afternoon by Kinmundy and Salem Police.
South Central School Superintendent Kerry Herdes, in a release to parents, said they became aware of allegations of possible inappropriate relations between a student and a high school teacher on February 26th. The teacher was immediately placed on administrative leave, and DCFS and law enforcement were contacted. Herdes says the teacher never returned to the classroom and had no further contact with students.
Kinmundy Police Chief Joe Duffy says his office was contacted by DCFS to assist with the investigation. Duffy then worked with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department detective assigned to work with the national child exploitation organization that investigates sex crimes involving children. He reports both Lother’s phone and the phone of the alleged victim, a 15-year-old South Central High School student, were obtained by search warrants. The downloaded information from the alleged victim led to the decision to seek criminal charges. Duffy says the contents of Lother’s phone are still being analyzed. He notes that when that work is completed, it’s possible additional charges could be filed. At this point, the investigation has centered on just the one victim.
Herdes says the school district is fully cooperating with DCFS and law enforcement. He says student safety is of paramount importance and the district takes its responsibility seriously to maintain safe school environments on all its campuses. In that regard, Herdes says they continue to work jointly with DCFS and law enforcement to assist with any alleged misconduct of its students or employees.
Herdes, in the letter, says this news is disheartening and upsetting because the district has zero tolerance for any behavior that endangers students. To reinforce the commitment, the school district continually provides and requires training for staff. Those initiatives aim to educate staff, students, and parents about the various aspects of respectful behavior and reporting procedures. By fostering a culture of awareness, clear communication, and training, the district affirms its commitment to student safety.
Formal charges have not yet been filed, but are expected to be in place for Lother to make a first court appearance on Monday.
