Barren County Sheriff's Office Public Information Deputy Mike Houchens says that Barren County Middle School teacher William Kyle Gardner was charged Saturday with second-degree rape of a 13-year-old girl and first-degree sexual abuse. The 27-year-old is also charged with tampering with evidence.
An arrest citation obtained by the news outlet says Gardner admitted to deputies in an interview that he had sex with an underage female student on three occasions.
A statement on the Barren County Schools Facebook page said officials are cooperating with law enforcement and will take action to "protect students."