Following more than two years of litigation and pretrial discussion, a former Hopkinsville High School band director is on his way to serving time.
Seth Peveler, indicted in June 2019 following a very-public investigation, used Tuesday afternoon in Christian County Circuit Court to plead guilty on four counts of third-degree rape, four counts of third-degree sodomy and one count of unlawful transaction in the second degree — which would concurrently run seven years without probation based on Commonwealth opposition.
Special Circuit Judge Jamie Jameson noted Peveler’s pleas, with special prosecutor Dennis Foust adding the charges were sectioned accordingly because they were all classified as Class D felonies — which typically equate into 5-to-10-year sentences and a three-year probation term.
Peveler will continue to remain out on bond until his formal sentencing at 1 p.m. April 29.
According to his original indictment, Peveler’s charges stem from specific acts that occurred during his tenure as Tiger band director, in which he allegedly had deviant sexual relations with a student under the age of 18 while in an acting capacity of a leadership position.
Peveler’s sodomy charges further accused him of deviant sexual activity with a student, or students, on four specific occasions. The unlawful transaction with a minor charge is rooted from an allegation that Peveler provided marijuana to a minor, before having sexual intercourse with a female student.
Peveler resigned as Hopkinsville High School band director in May 2019, and his trial that was set to begin January 5 — two weeks from now — has been rendered moot.
Peveler’s wife, Hannah, resigned as assistant commonwealth’s attorney for Christian County in June 2019. She was indicted for tampering with a witness, following accusations that she attempted to coerce witnesses to not testify against her then-husband.
Foust said Tuesday that he has full intentions to file a motion in her case soon.
In a 2019 report following an open records request from the News Edge, Peveler was allegedly “grooming” another student for possible engagements of inappropriate conduct.
A Kentucky State Police investigation noted a source — only identified by initials — told police that some information indicated that “a band teacher, Seth, at a high school in Hopkinsville could be a threat to other kids.” This source also told authorities that they had qualified information that “Seth had sex with one student,” and was “grooming a second student, by providing a list of things that she could or could not do when she goes to college — such as not being allowed to talk to guys.”
On May 8, 2019, Peveler was placed on administrative leave with pay during an investigation, before turning in his resignation three weeks later.
KSP’s initial report also indicated sexual relations began with one student in August 2017, at his home.
