The McCracken County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of Julio Estrada, an employee of McCracken County Public Schools, on charges including four counts of third-degree rape and one count of first-degree unlawful transaction with a minor.
According to detectives, a juvenile reported that Estrada, who is identified as a 30-year-old program site coordinator at Reidland Middle School, had illegal sexual contact with her approximately one year earlier. The McCracken County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation with assistance from the Paducah Police Department and McCracken County Public Schools. Estrada was apprehended at his residence in Reidland on September 18, 2025. Authorities confirmed that evidence corroborating the allegations was found during a search of Estrada’s home.
Kentucky State Police data indicate that in 2024, over 1,100 arrests were made statewide for sexual offenses involving minors. These include statutory and third-degree rape. The state’s criminal code defines third-degree rape as sexual intercourse with a minor aged 14 to 15 by an adult at least five years older. Convictions can lead to imprisonment for up to five years and mandatory sex offender registration.
A report from the U.S. Department of Education in 2024 highlighted that more than 700 school employees nationwide were arrested for alleged sexual misconduct with minors. Nearly half of these incidents involved grooming behavior or online communication. In response, Kentucky has implemented stricter reporting requirements for educators and mandatory training programs for school staff to prevent and identify sexual abuse involving students.
The McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, based in Paducah, Kentucky, provides law enforcement services throughout McCracken County. The agency manages criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, court security, and the county jail while collaborating with municipal police departments and state agencies in Western Kentucky to address public safety issues such as narcotics and child exploitation.
