Law enforcement officers and investigators descended on a Welcome Road residence in north Butler County on Wednesday night. Following the execution of a search warrant, Richie Bratcher, age 51, of Morgantown, was arrested on multiple charges related to sending sexually explicit messages to a minor.

According to a press release from the Kentucky State Police - Post 3, Bratcher was arrested as the result of an investigation after discovering sexually explicit messages to a minor.

The investigation resulted in the execution of a search warrant at a residence near Morgantown.  Equipment used to facilitate the crime was seized for examination.  Bratcher, an employee of the Butler County Board of Education, has been charged with three (3) counts of Prohibited Use of an Electronic Communication System to Procure a Minor. He is currently lodged in the Butler County Detention Center.

Butler County Schools’ Superintendent Robert Tuck released the following statement on Wednesday night about the situation.

“I have learned that an employee of the Butler County School District has been arrested by the Kentucky State Police on charges of three (3) counts of Prohibited Use of an Electronic Communication System to Procure a Minor.  I have taken appropriate action to remove this individual from the District at this time.  Due to individual privacy rights, we are unable to comment further at this time.”

The investigation is ongoing.