Kentucky teacher charged in Washington County child-sex sting
Elmer Mitchell Fields, 57, a middle school teacher from Viper, Kentucky, has been charged in Washington County with one felony count of engaging in electronic communication describing sexual conduct with a child.[1]
Washington County human trafficking investigators say they created an undercover Kik account posing as a 15-year-old girl and collected alleged explicit messages, videos and audio they say came from Fields.[1] Investigators say the evidence includes messages tied to school calendar dates and a voice match to Fields from a television interview, and that a search warrant was executed at his Kentucky home on Oct. 28.[1]
On July 28, county investigators say they set up the undercover account that posed as the 15-year-old and then engaged in online exchanges that led to the criminal charge.[1] Because Fields is employed as a middle school teacher in the Hazard Independent School District and has no known ties to Minnesota, authorities issued a nationwide arrest warrant.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Suspect: Elmer Mitchell Fields, 57, of Viper, Kentucky, identified as a middle school teacher in the Hazard Independent School District
- Charge: One Washington County felony count of engaging in electronic communication describing sexual conduct with a child
- Sting operation: Undercover Kik account posing as a 15-year-old girl was created by Washington County human trafficking investigators on July 28
- Evidence: Alleged explicit messages, videos and audio, matching school calendar dates, and a TV interview voice match tying Fields to the account
- Enforcement action: Oct. 28 search warrant executed at Fields’ Kentucky home; nationwide arrest warrant issued due to his position at a middle school and lack of Minnesota ties
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