Pike teacher charged with misconduct

By Russ CassadyStaff Writer

A teacher at East Ridge High School pleaded not guilty to official misconduct charges Wednesday after his arrest for allegedly soliciting an underage student to show him her breasts in exchange for a grade.

Lincoln Shane Bentley, 32, of Neon, a teacher and assistant football coach at East Ridge, was arrested following an investigation by Kentucky State Police Trooper Johnny Slone and charged with two counts of official misconduct — a Class A misdemeanor.

According to the warrant, on March 27 and 28, Bentley, as a teacher, committed official misconduct when he asked the minor student to expose her breasts to enhance her grade.

Pike County Schools Superintendent Roger Wagner said yesterday the allegations were brought before board officials, who immediately notified social services and the Kentucky State Police.

“He has been suspended with pay until we get a conviction or he is cleared,” Wagner said, adding Bentley has also been ordered to not be on East Ridge school grounds and not to have contact with any students.

This case was dealt with according to policy.

“Anything that comes to our attention, we’re obligated and want to report,” Wagner said.

Bentley was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to the charges before Pike District Judge Darrel Mullins on Wednesday.

Robbie Wright, the attorney representing Bentley, said yesterday he asks for people to wait before passing judgment against his client.

“From what I understand, at this point, it’s one person’s word against another,” Wright said. “He is innocent until proven guilty.

“At this point it’s awful early to make any judgment.”

Wright said Bentley, an English teacher, has been teaching for about 10 years and from what he has been told is a “good teacher.”

Bentley’s coaching was about to take him into a head coach’s position.

Jenkins Independent Schools Superintendent John Shook confirmed Wednesday that Bentley had been hired to be head football coach at Jenkins High School, a position he was to have begun on July 1.

“Our contract can be made null and void without any problem pending the outcome,” Shook said.

At this point, Shook said, he would await the outcome of the case against Bentley before making any decision.

Mullins set a $5,000/10 percent bond for Bentley during his arraignment Wednesday, citing a lack of any previous record.

“I’ve had a talk with the officers and they have no problem with the bond being set,” Mullins said. “There’s very little (criminal) history and nothing in (Bentley’s) background.”

Chief Assistant Pike County Attorney Roger Varney said Wednesday that his office looks closely at any case that involves something as serious as a teacher possibly violating the trust of their students.

“Obviously, we’ll take this case very seriously,” he said.

Bentley is scheduled to appear back in court on June 16.