A federal grand jury sitting in Bowling Green has returned a nine-count indictment charging Matthew Constant with numerous offenses related to the sexual exploitation of children. Authorities also said the FBI Louisville Field Office is seeking to identify potential victims.
According to the indictment, Constant, 52, the former superintendent for Owensboro Public Schools, was charged with two counts of online enticement of a minor, three counts of receipt of child pornography, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, and two counts of transferring obscene material to a minor.
Constant’s attorney had no comment on the indictment.
The indictment was returned on August 14, and the details were announced on August 20 by U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement.
According to a release from Bennett’s office, Constant made an initial court appearance on August 19 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The Court ordered Constant detained pending trial.
According to the release, if convicted, Constant faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
If you or your minor dependent(s) have information about Constant, you are asked to contact the FBI at [email protected]. Authorities said responses are voluntary but may be useful in the federal investigation in identifying you or your child as a potential victim. Victims may be eligible for certain services, restitution, and rights under federal and/or state law.
This case is being investigated by FBI Owensboro and the Kentucky State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting this case.
According to the release, this case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
For our previous coverage on Constant related to this case, click here.
