Shannon Hirchert, Shelbyville Special Needs Teacher Facing Sex Charges

SHELBYVILLE, Ky. -- Shelby County authorities say a high school teacher is facing charges for allegedly having sexual contact with two students.

Sheriff's Detective Jason Rice says 42-year-old Shannon Hirchert is charged with six counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of distributing obscene matter to minors. Hirchert is a special-needs teacher at Martha Layne Collins High School.

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Rice said Thursday that Hirchert is accused of having five sexual encounters with one student and one encounter with another student.

Both boys were under 18 when the encounters allegedly occurred last fall and winter at various locations, including a classroom and parking lots. Rice says the two boys were not students in Hirchert's class.

Rice says the case remains under investigation.

Hirchert was arrested Wednesday and was released from jail later on bond.