Sadie M. Flores, 25, of Mayfield, was arrested Friday afternoon and charged with grooming a minor, a Class D felony under a Kentucky law that took effect just weeks ago on July 15.
According to the Graves County Sheriff’s Office, Flores, an employee at Graves County Middle School, is accused of having an improper relationship with a minor student in the district.
The allegations were first reported to Graves County Schools, whose administrators immediately notified the Graves County Sheriff’s Office, prompting a criminal investigation.
Detectives said the investigation included the seizure of electronic records, interviews and other investigative measures. Flores was interviewed Friday afternoon before being taken into custody around 3:30 p.m. She was booked into the Graves County Restricted Custody Center before later being transferred to an out-of-county detention facility.
Sheriff Jon Hayden said the investigation remains ongoing.
According to a previous social media post by the district, Flores was hired last year as a special education teacher.
“District administration was made aware of an allegation involving a teacher at Graves County Middle School. School officials immediately reported this information to the Graves County Sheriff’s Department for investigation,” Madding said in a statement.
“We have since been informed that, as a result of that investigation, charges have been filed against this teacher.”
“Because this is an ongoing legal and personnel matter, we are limited in the information we can publicly share. However, we want to assure our families that the safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority.”
“We take any allegation involving the safety of a child or the professional conduct of an employee extremely seriously and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement and the appropriate authorities. Our commitment remains to providing every student with a safe, supportive, and effective learning environment. We are grateful to the Graves County Sheriff’s Department for their professionalism and assistance throughout this matter, and we appreciate the continued trust and support of our students, families, and community.”
The grooming charge stems from a Kentucky law that took effect July 15, creating a new felony offense aimed at adults accused of cultivating inappropriate relationships with minors before sexual abuse occurs.
The measure makes it a felony, with up to 10 years in prison, for an adult in a position of “authority or special trust,” such as an educator, coach or church leader, to groom a child.
The new Kentucky law, effective July 15, aims to prevent inappropriate relationships between adults and minors, with Flores being one of the first individuals charged under this legislation.
In the viral moment surrounding this arrest, a Graves County Middle School teacher was taken into custody after administrators at the school district identified concerns about an alleged improper relationship with a student. The allegations prompted an immediate report to law enforcement, launching a criminal investigation that included the seizure of electronic records and witness interviews.
Flores was arrested Friday afternoon and charged with grooming a minor, a Class D felony under a Kentucky law that took effect just weeks ago on July 15.
Authorities have not released additional details about the alleged relationship, the student’s age, or whether additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues.