Documents provide new details in Peveler investigation

Newly released documents show former Hopkinsville High School band director Seth Peveler may have tried to groom a second victim and engaged in other inappropriate conduct.

A Kentucky State Police report obtained through an open records request from the school system indicates an unnamed source told authorities that a band teacher at Hopkinsville High named Seth ‘could be a threat to other kids.’

The reporting party had received information that Peveler had sex with one student and had ‘groomed’ another female student who has since graduated from high school. He reportedly gave that student a list of things she could or could not do once she entered college, which the reporting party believed to include not talking to guys.

There’s no indication on the report Peveler ever had sexual contact with that female.

The report cites information that Peveler sent a message to a college student threatening to beat up her boyfriend and to kill him.

Christian County School System Superintendent Mary Ann Gemmill says the KSP report was presented to Hopkinsville High Principal John Gunn on May 8 and he then contacted central office.

Chief Administrative Officer Laura Morris and Personnel Director Anita Hopson met immediately with Peveler and placed him on administrative leave the same day. Peveler submitted a letter of resignation on May 31 that does not include any mention of the allegations.

The investigation into the alleged sexual contact was turned over to Hopkinsville Police and Peveler was arrested on Wednesday of last week and charged with third-degree rape, third-degree sodomy and second-degree unlawful transaction with a minor.

A warrant alleges that at his home in the summer of 2017, he provided marijuana to a student and had sexual contact with her on two occasions. The girl was 16-years old the first time, 17 on the second occasion and the warrant notes that Peveler was in a position of authority or special trust over the alleged victim during each instance.

Regarding any other potential instances of misconduct, Superintendent Gemmill says: ‘Neither the Central Office (including the Personnel Department) nor Hopkinsville High School has any documents (including electronic communications) that relate to any reports of prior suspicious activity or misconduct similar in any way to the recent allegations.’