Pike County superintendent, high school principal indicted

Two school officials in Pike County, Ind., are facing misdemeanor charges of failing to report child abuse or neglect.

Indictments against Pike County School Corp. Superintendent D. John Thomas, 61, and Pike Central High School Principal LeAnne Kelley, 46, were returned Thursday by a county grand jury.

D. John Thomas, Pike County School Corp. superintendent

D. John Thomas, Pike County School Corp. superintendent

LeAnne Kelley, Pike Central High School principal

LeAnne Kelley, Pike Central High School principal

According to Indiana State Police, the charges stem from two separate cases involving Luke Musselwhite, 26, a former Pike Central teacher and assistant football coach.

Police in August began investigating allegations Musselwhite had sent hundreds of text messages, including several that were sexual in nature, to a female student a few months earlier.

Musselwhite was arrested Sept. 2 on charges of dissemination of harmful material to a minor, a class D felony, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a class A misdemeanor.

On that same day, Pike Central teacher and head football coach Marty Deputy committed suicide amid rumors he also was being investigated for alleged phone-related misconduct. Deputy never was arrested.

Police in January launched a second investigation of Musselwhite that involved an allegation he struck a female student on the back of her leg with a yard stick. A misdemeanor battery charge was filed.

The cases against Musselwhite still are pending in Pike County courts.

During his investigations of Musselwhite, detective Tobias Odom received information that Thomas and Kelley knew about the teacher's alleged misconduct but "failed to notify police or child protective services," according to an Indiana State Police news release.

Pike County Prosecutor Darrin McDonald presented the case to a grand jury. Testimony took "several days," the State Police said.

The indictments came Thursday. McDonald couldn't be reached for comment.

Thomas and Kelley turned themselves in at the Pike County Jail at 2:45 p.m. Both were released after posting bond.

A telephone message left at Thomas' home was not returned. Kelley could not be reached.

Gary Horrall, president of the Pike County School Board, declined to comment.

Thomas has been superintendent in Pike County since January 2004. The school system's official enrollment is 2,046.


  • Discuss
  • Print

Comments » 107

OneManWolfpack writes:

I guess when you only go to school for 20 days a year, it's tough to look into these situations. In all seriousness, it is terrible that these incidents weren't reported. I hope the two adults get what they deserve.

Noah writes:

This story is shocking. How could educators who have reached such high positions of authority (repsonsibility) be so ignorant of the right thing to do when a child is threatened?

How could someone so sick end up being allowed to teach children?

My thoughts and prayers go out to the students and parents in Pike County who were involved in or who had to worry about this situation.

DMBfanUSI writes:

Nice mugshots. Hey photographer, learn to focus your camera. I would have taken theses pictures for cheap. The people out there in news land deserve to know what these two idiots look like.

Deuteronomyjones writes:

Anybody can be indicted. John Clouse once said a prosecutor gan take a grand jury and get a ham sandwich indicted. This is some more of Darrin "two gun McDonald's vendetta against the School Corporation. Thomas wouldn't let his sister, who is a tescher, change schools. McDonald has a great track record. Remember the two state cops who got indicted. McDonald dismissed the charges after he won the election. He is dangerous. Everytime I drive into Pike County I roll up my windows and wait for Rod Serling to come over the radio and say "You just entered the Twilight Zone.

nofool writes:

I've heard Pike County called many things but never "the Twilight Zone".
That town is, for a lack of a better word twisted. Deliverance comes to mind.

zxvtrp writes:

Is McDonald related to Nifong??

Deuteronomyjones writes:

You are right about McDonald being another Nifong. What a waste of the taxpayers money and ruining the lives of two public servants. McDonald who was a deputy prosecutor and his then boss Boyd Toler went after the Pike County Democrat Chairman Ron Robling on a vote tampering case. Robling spent $40,000.00 in attorney fees and the case was dismissed. McDonald and Toler laughed at him and said at least it cost you a lot of money. That is how justice prevails in Pike County. McDonald is a dangerous and vindictive person who hides behind a grand jury.

PAPPY writes:

this beats anything i have ever heard of. 2 kids weae violated by teachers and you folks jump onto the prosecutor. no wonder there were so many people making negitive blogs about what the group break the silence is trying to do. folks it has been determined by a grand jury these teachers failed to report known abuse and you jump the prosecutor. why dont you let the criminal justice work before you start passing judgment. darin mcdonald is trying to clean up pike co. and you people scream foul because he uncovers some child abuse. shme be onYOU

TNJan writes:

We need to BREAK THE SILENCE anytime that child abuse may be involved. If the teacher, as well as these two, are innocent, that should come out in court. However, if the teacher did the things which are stated, and these two knew about it and covered it up, they deserve to be indicted. Break The Silence and let justice prevail, and the guilty ones punished.

tristatecitizen writes:

Amen Pappy!!!!

mygirl1982 writes:

I went to school with Luke Musselwhite. His mom was a teacher at Jasper High and he was popular. He played sports and was nice to everyone. When this story was first reported, my jaw dropped. But I have also learned through the years that we can't always believe what we read in the media. Everything is exaggerated, try to remember this the next time you want to judge someone.

Twiggy writes:

We have found out in recent weeks people are going to be held responsible not only for their actions but for protecting those who need to be held accountable for acts of violence against our youth. This is a wake up call for everyone.

Honey_West writes:

Just a comment on the yardstick across the kid's legs....

It wasn't just too long ago that kids that misbehaved in school got a big wooden paddle swatted across their bottoms a few times. A yardstick was used in this case? I've heard some pathetic stories of how kids show complete disrespect to teachers because they know they can get away with it (whatever the 'it' may be). Sometimes I wonder if it would make a difference in bringing that respect back if the paddle was brought back into school. Generations before us grew up with corporal punishment in schools and weren't warped from the experience.

snakeguy writes:

Bring back the paddle! How about the teachers that are assulted every day?

hyestani writes:

Honey: Right there with you. We got the leather strap & that was less than 20 years ago. Parents could sign a waiver if they wanted to deal with the issue themselves. I can vividly remember getting slapped on the leg in Kindergarten for carrying my scissors wrong. My mom also used a yard stick. It wasn't often because we behaved for the most part. Can't say I am warped- although some of you regulars might disagree LOL.
mygirl: I find it interesting that had this girl been 18 (a few months older) & graduated it might've been just another relationship among adults. I often wonder if there should be a required age difference between students & teachers. If one wants to adopt a child, one has to be x number of years older. How many 26 year old men date 17 year olds? Of my small group of high school friends, I know at least three that dated and married men is this range & at that age. These are all now professional, respectable people.

readcp writes:

This is a situation in Pike County that the needs to be fully investigated (which seems to be happening) and the facts pursued according to the evidence. Pike County doesn't need teachers that would be tempted to cross the line of acceptable behavior. Nor does it need administrators that would allow it to happen the second time. These people involved will have their day in court as the American justice system demands. I for one am glad that the investigators and prosecutor did not choose to look the other way as it seems some responsible people may have.

ISmileALot writes:

I think there might be a lot more to this story than a 'teacher dating a student.' High Schoolers don't behave like they used to...and they are FAR from innocent. The teacher is still responsible for his behavior, but I doubt the girls was "sweet and innocent." Maybe the principal knew more of the details than we do......maybe she knows about extenuating circumstances that complicate this situation. Let's try not to judge.

peachydew writes:

I would like to start by saying that I know both John Thomas and LeAnne Kelley and support them 100%. Pike Central took some very positive turns when LeAnne Kelley became high school principal. She is fair, honest, and sincerely concerned about the students. I feel the same about John Thomas. Before all of this nonsense started there were regular stories in the paper of improvement in the Pike County School Corporation. I feel that most people do not know the whole story. These two people would not intentionally do anything to put a student in jeopardy!! If you read the news stories and listen to the news casts, something just does not add up. Honestly, I think there is someone who does not have the best interest of the students in mind (NOT Kelley and Thomas but someone in the legal system). Instead they are more focused on getting revenge for a family member. It is amazing to me that someone who holds that much power is abusing it so badly. Maybe he get off of his high horse and find someone else to pick on?


Did there parents teach them anything? I mean the adults in this case.

johnh writes:

The timeline is more in question than anything else. Who knew what and when? The news story doesn't say. It will be decided in Court.

captainamerica writes:

(duleing banjos playing in background)
"hey you shore gotta pretty mouth on you thar" "you ever sqqueel like a pig?" "go ahead boy squealllll, piggy piggy piggy,sqqquuuell"
da da dum da dum.

stinpi#9023 writes:

so...... "Deputy was never arrested"???? Could it have been because he was no longer living?

Legal_Eagle writes:

Sounds 'sexting' related.

(Google it if you don't know)

makessense writes:

Deuteronomyjones, Is this the same John Clouse that hid the porn tape of a sex felon from Santa Claus?

John Clouse would likely defend these people, afterall he is the kind of scum that works this kind of case.

skydance writes:

I do not understand why a misdemeanor charge landed the two in jail, and was presented to a grand jury. I have to comment on what harm this has done to Pike County citizens. #1 LeAnne Kelley is an a wonderful addition to our schools; she has been harmed by this....much more than a yard stick slap could do to anyone. The laws in this country are getting stupid. #2...You think that a yard stick slap hurt the back of a girls leg??? Every child in Pike County has been harmed by this very neglectful act of wrongly accusing. I also believe that this gives the "misbehaving ones" the upper hand on much. It will cause harm for years in our school system. We cannot stand silent and allow our elected officials, or the media, to harm our friends and family. I cannot express enough that Pike County has been harmed by this....but NOT by LeAnne Kelley!!!!

hellodolly writes:

Darren McDonald is not the problem. Mr. McDonald has done a excellent job in the prosecutors office, he doesn't sweep things under the rug like some past prosecutors did. It's about time Pike County cleaned up their act and Mr. McDonald is trying to do just that. A good Prosecutor gathers ALL of the evidence and presents it to the Grand Jury to decide if there is enough to file charges. A Prosecutor cannot indite someone by himself just because he has a grudge! In this case the Grand Jury found that there was enough evidence to bring charges against these two school officials.
This is not the first incident at a Pike County school that was not reported by school officials which leads me to believe these school officials are used to covering things up.
I can't believe people are actually complaining about a Prosecutor that does his job and does it well.
I stand behind Mr. McDonald 100%.
Since he has been in office several past crimes have been reinvestigated and solved. The evidence has been there but was "overlooked" by past officials. Thank You Mr. McDonald for bring closure to those families who waited so long for answers.
Perhaps if Vanderburgh County had a better Prosecutor, Evansville wouldn't have such a high crime rate.
Who knows what is happening in the EVSC that goes un-reported by your school officials!

skydance writes:

Should I, maybe, call in this report of ALL of the children, in our county, being abused? I may end up in jail if I don't.

Legal_Eagle writes:


Amen on the Clouse remarks!!

paratus (Inactive) writes:

I have witnessed the Pike county "good ole boy network" in action first hand and this story has the same feel to it.

Does anyone know why the Indiana state police is handling this investigation instead of the Pike county sheriffs office?

chickie writes:

Politics aside, if these two DID know about the abuse which, if a misdemeanor battery charge was filed, they must have, then they should be in trouble. They may be great in many other areas of their jobs, but putting teachers or PR above the safety of a student is unforgivable.

paratus (Inactive) writes:

Does anyone know if that Flieg squirrel is involved? He is the attorney for the school. Aren't administators supposed to run stuff by the School attorney to find out what they are legally bound to do?

paratus (Inactive) writes:

The school board decided to return him to his job, not the administrators. I believe that the administrators had him investigated in the first place.

Which is part of the reason I find this story very odd.

skydance writes:

How many children, do you suppose, are going through emotional harm NOW??? I am not saying that the teacher was right..he was wrong...but Miss Kelley has done no harm to our children. I don't understand why McDonald did this to our communities.

paratus (Inactive) writes:

Didn't the school administrators have him investigated by the police? Check out this older story from the courier and tell me something odd isn't going on.


skydance writes:

Is it also the "job" of the principle to call the cps when a child stays up past 10:00pm...not allowing the student to get enough sleep? The parents should have been aware of the texting, and put an end to it. Can you imagine the burden of the school officials having to police everything that is going on in these homes?

paratus (Inactive) writes:

Det. Odom is a stand up guy or at least he was when he patrolled. Which also makes me wonder what the real issue is here.
Two school administrators contact the ISP(not the local sheriff) to investigate a couple of perv coaches, but fail to notify cps when one of the same coaches(reinstated by the school board) hits a kid???

It almost sounds like maybe someone is not being forthcoming with their facts. Which is why I brought up that squirrel school attorney.

paratus (Inactive) writes:

I'm not disagreeing with you red, I'm just saying that there has got to be more to this than what's being reported here.

PAPPY writes:

HEY SARGE where are you at on this?

paratus (Inactive) writes:


paratus (Inactive) writes:

I guess I've never seen someone comment for someone else to comment. That's a strange thing to do.

paratus (Inactive) writes:

Is that right? The age of consent is 17 in indiana?

paratus (Inactive) writes:

That is a little shocking.

paratus (Inactive) writes:

I always thought that the age of majority was 18, and that was all inclusive(with a few exceptions).

sarge writes:


They failed to report child abuse and that's why they are being charged. In Indiana it is against the law to witness or have knowledge of child abuse and not report it. If we are going to uphold the laws for some then we have to uphold the laws for all. So, whether the child was 2 years old or 16 years old, it is against the law. If we are going to protect our children then we have to protect all of our children not just the ones who are under 5 years old.

I don't know anything about the politics of the case but I have read articles in the past where the new sheriff was trying to clean up the town.

Break The Silence in all child abuse cases. No more secrets.

sickey writes:

I was a middle school student years ago, In Warrick Co. We had a teacher that was engaging in sex acts with a fellow student, while the 13 year old student bragged to her piers about the encounters some of which where inside the school after hours. Myself and many other students told members of the faculty only to fall on deaf ears. Protecting your own isnt only a police creed. Eventually the student came forward to authorities, and the teacher was convicted of child molestation and sent to prison. The moral to the story.... Listen to your kids.

johnh writes:

Before you crusify the the school officials, just remember that if you see a 2 year old watching TV that is CHILD ABUSE. Kids get over a bruised butt, but they never get over watching TV. It teaches kids to think in 3 second intervals. That in turn produces ADD and ADHD students...then the schools mummify them with Ritalin.

Will you report any kid you see watching TV to the Police? Why not. It is child abuse. There are lots of court precedents that says it is abuse, and not one court ruling that says it is not that I know of.

Look up the stats that of how many Ritalin users go into hard drugs. Google it. You will be amazed.

Call a child psychologist or psychiatrist and ask what a TV does to the mind of a child. (age l to l4)

paratus (Inactive) writes:

Politics comes into play in a lot of cases.

I just don't think this is a cut and dry case. It seems to me that any school administrator with enough concerns about a teacher to contact the ISP, would then have no problem with contacting the CPS about the same teacher with abuse concerns.

Pike county politics just seems to work that way. I think that it's quite possible that these people were told to keep their mouths shut about the incident by the school board that reinstated him in the first place.

Any way you look at it two careers are completely ruined. Even if they are acquitted, they will probably never be able to work in any school system again.

sarge writes:

johnh: The difference is that a child watching TV is not against the law. A teacher hitting a student or having sex with a student is against the law.

paratus (Inactive) writes:

Or it's even more likely that either one of them contacted the schools attorney(one of the biggest good ole boys in the network) and was given poor legal advice as to what the legal requirements were. Especially since his actual employer is the school board that reinstated the perv coach in the first place.

nofool writes:

Thomas, Kelley and Musselwhite should get positions at the Diocese of Evansville or Mater Dei. At these institutions, protecting the employee is paramont, regardless of the physical, emotional or sexual abuse they are accused of, even after they are convicted.
