P.E. teacher free to be reinstated

By BOB WHITE bwhite@thenewsenterprise.com ELIZABETHTOWN – A Central Hardin High School teacher accused in April of sexually abusing a young male relative will be reinstated after a Hardin District Court judge found Thursday there was insufficient evidence to pursue the case. Hardin County Schools spokesman Dick Thornton said “based on the report from the court that the charges against him were dismissed,” the school system will reinstate Brian Keith Walters to his physical education teaching position with the school. Thornton said he did not know, however, if Walters would return. Walters could not be reached for comment. The case against the 35-year-old teacher and father of two made headlines in April after police arrested and jailed him after claims he sexually abused a 9-year-old male relative. Walters was placed on unpaid leave from the school pending the outcome of court proceedings. During a preliminary hearing Thursday, District Judge Kim Shumate found no probable cause to pursue the case against Walters. If probable cause had been found, the case would have been submitted to a Hardin County grand jury for review and possible indictment. The commonwealth still could present evidence to a grand jury through direct submission if state prosecutors choose to do so, but that’s rare to occur after a judge finds insufficient evidence in a case. Walters was released from jail after 10 percent of a $25,000 bond was posted. If convicted on the charge, he could have faced five years imprisonment. Two domestic violence cases involving Walters, his wife and children, were filed in Hardin Family Court in February. One of those cases has been dismissed. An Emergency Protective Order was issued on the other, according to court records. Bob White can be reached at (270) 505-1750.