Kentucky Social Worker Charged With Sexually Abusing a Teenager Held in a Juvenile Detention Center

A social worker in Perry County, Kentucky, has been charged with sexually abusing a teenage inmate at a juvenile detention facility, WKYT reported, citing coverage by the Lexington Herald-Leader. According to WKYT's account of the Herald-Leader reporting, investigators allege the 47-year-old kissed a detained teenager more than a dozen times between late 2025 and early 2026 at the Breathitt Regional Juvenile Detention Center near Jackson.

The incidents were captured on video, according to the Herald-Leader reporting cited by WKYT. The station reported that the social worker has since been barred from the facility and has had no contact with minors in custody.

WKYT reported she was indicted in September and released after posting a $10,000 bond, with a court appearance scheduled for Friday. The charges are allegations that have not been resolved in court.