Staff Report
MURRAY, Ky. — A Mt. Vernon man who had a sexual relationship with a 17-year old student while student teaching in a western Kentucky school has pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual abuse, tampering with evidence and sexual misconduct.
The Paducah Sun reports that John A. “Drew” Millwood, 24, of Mt. Vernon, pleaded guilty Monday to the charges. Prosecutors recommended a diversion agreement that would leave him without a criminal record in five years if he abides by its terms.
Millwood must serve 90 days either in jail or on home incarceration.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Mark Blankenship says Millwood was working as a student-teacher in the Calloway County school system when he had sexual relations with a 17-year-old he taught.
Millwood was arrested on March 13, and was charged with first-degree sexual abuse, tampering with physical evidence, attempted tampering with physical evidence, marijuana cultivation and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to information from the Calloway County, Ky. Circuit Court.
Millwood pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old student while he was a student teacher in a position of authority over the student. Under Kentucky law, the age of legal consent is 16, but it is illegal for someone holding a position of authority to have intercourse with anyone under the age of 18. Millwood also pleaded guilty to tampering with physical evidence for deleting text messages from his cell phone.
Millwood was a student at Murray State University completing his teaching degree when he was arrested.
Local
Millwood pleads guilty to sexual abuse charge
- Local
-
- County Board approves appointments MT. VERNON — The Jefferson County Board approved five appointments to various county entities.
- World Class Workforce adding web presence MT. VERNON — The Jefferson County Development Corporation is working to improve the World Class Workforce program and bring it to the web.
- State passes Medicaid cut plan MT. VERNON — The Illinois Legislature passed a plan on Thursday to trim Medicaid by 12 percent, or $1.6 billion. The legislation cuts Medicaid reimbursement rates to hospitals and nursing homes by $240 million per year.
- Officials urge area residents to use caution as temperatures rise into 90s MT. VERNON — Temperatures are expected to be in the mid to high 90s for the area this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
-
Ina resident wins Spotlight Literacy Award
INA — Yaro Hospodarsky of Ina won a 2012 Spotlight Literacy Award, given by the Illinois Press Association and the Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White.
-
Children’s home seeks foster parents
MT. VERNON — The United Methodist Children’s Home is looking for people who are willing to become foster parents to children age 12 through 18.
-
Road work suspensions for weekend
MT. VERNON — Starting at 3 p.m. today, the Illinois Department of Transportation will be suspending all non-emergency road work for the holiday weekend and open up all lanes, where possible, until 12 a.m., May 28.
-
City plans additional leg of bike trail
MT. VERNON — The city of Mt. Vernon has plans to include an additional leg in its bike trail.
-
County unemployment rate drops
MT. VERNON — The county unemployment rate dropped seven tenths of a percentage point from March to April, coming in at 7.8 percent.
-
Pool safety reminders for the start of summer
MT. VERNON — The best way to keep every swimmer safe is swim lessons, said Mt. Vernon City Pool manager Joyce Damron.
- More Local Headlines

