Former Police Officer And School Administrator Charged With Violating Federal Child Sex Abuse LawsOther School Officials Charged With Failing To Report The Abuse

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A federal grand jury charged a Grayson County, Kentucky, man with violating federal laws designed to protect children from sexual abuse as well as threatening/intimidating a witness. The grand jury also charged several other school officials with failing to report the abuse, announced David J. Hale, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.

Stephen E. Miller, age 44, previously worked as a police officer in Leitchfield, Kentucky. He resigned the position following complaints of inappropriate sexual activity toward two women. Miller then began working at Bluegrass Challenge Academy, a residential, educational program run by the Kentucky National Guard, located on Fort Knox Military Base. Miller had supervisory authority over the Academy students. He is charged with engaging in sexual contact with three students, including an incident of aggravated sexual abuse with one of the three. The incidents occurred between February and August, 2013. The Indictment also charges Miller with attempting to threaten or intimidate the third student to prevent her from reporting the matter to law enforcement.

Additionally, the grand jury charged school officials, John W. Smith, Leroy Burgess, Jr., Kemmye S. Graves, Rolanshia Windom, Rita Carthen, and Gabriel Onusko with failing to report the first incident of abuse to law enforcement officials, as required by federal law.

If convicted, Miller faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, a fine of up to $1,250,000 and at least five years of supervised release. The remaining defendants, if convicted, face maximum sentences of one year in prison, a fine of up to $100,000 and up to one year of supervised release. Miller is being held in the custody of the United States Marshals Service.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jo E. Lawless and Stephanie Zimdahl are prosecuting the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with assistance from the Army Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation.

The indictment of a person by a Grand Jury is an accusation
only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless
proven guilty.