On the Beat in the Bluegrass

RICHMOND — An AmeriCorps volunteer employed at Madison Middle School was arrested Monday for allegedly sending explicit text messages to a 13-year-old student.

Brandon Clay Rousey, 23, is accused of exchanging sexually explicit text messages with a student at Madison Middle School. He is being held at the Madison County jail on a $5,000 cash bond.

According to the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, Brandon Clay Rousey of Richmond sent more than 100 text messages to the student, asking for sexual favors.

Two sets of parents contacted the Madison County Sheriff’s Department Sunday about communication between Rousey and their daughters, both 13 years old.

Deputies brought Rousey in Monday for questioning, and he confessed to sending explicit text messages to one of the teens, Madison County Sheriff Nelson O’Donnell said.

Rousey, 23, was arrested Monday afternoon, charged with unlawful use of electronic means to induce a minor to engage in sexual or other prohibited activities. He is being held at the Madison County jail on a $5,000 cash bond.

Rousey began to send messages at the end of October, O’Donnell said. Phone records show that Rousey sent some messages during school hours, O’Donnell said.

The student involved sent text messages to Rousey, but it is unclear who initiated the correspondence, O’Donnell said.

During interrogation, O’Donnell said, he asked Rousey why he didn’t tell the student to stop sending him messages or inform an administrator.

“He just thought it was one of those things that would quit,” O’Donnell said.

The Madison County school system is conducting its own investigation.

“While Madison County Schools cannot comment on confidential student and staff information, I would like to be clear that the safety and well-being of each of our students is a paramount responsibility that we take very seriously,” Superintendent Tommy Floyd said in a statement.