MOREHEAD, Ky. — The Morehead Minute has confirmed that state investigators substantiated two separate cases involving the same former employee of the Morehead Youth Development Center, including one involving the improper deployment of OC spray and another involving inappropriate physical contact.
Kentucky State Police was notified of the cases, according to the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet.
The Morehead Minute has been working behind the scenes on this investigation since August 13, 2026, after receiving information concerning Kentucky State Police activity involving the Morehead Youth Development Center.
Rather than immediately publishing the allegations, The Morehead Minute spent the following days seeking independent verification and official comment from the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice and Justice and Public Safety Cabinet.
Those efforts have now resulted in confirmation of two substantiated Internal Investigations Branch cases.
Investigation Began With KSP Radio Traffic
The Morehead Minute's investigation followed Kentucky State Police Post 8 radio traffic from August 11 in which a dispatcher directed a trooper to respond to the Morehead Youth Development Center.
During the transmission, dispatch referenced a report sent to KSP by the Justice Cabinet concerning an internal investigation involving what was described over the radio as "excessive physical contact" and apparent use of OC spray.
Dispatch stated that the matter had been substantiated and sent to KSP.
The Morehead Minute subsequently contacted the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice seeking confirmation and additional information.
Morgan Hall, Communications Director for the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, confirmed that the Cabinet's Internal Investigations Branch, or IIB, had opened two cases on July 21 involving incidents at the Morehead Youth Development Center.
Both involved the same employee.
OC Spray Deployment Substantiated
According to Hall, one of the incidents occurred when a juvenile allegedly attempted to escape and attack a staff member using a broken piece of glass from a light fixture.
The staff member deployed OC spray against the juvenile.
The issue identified by investigators was not simply that OC spray was used. According to the Cabinet, it was the distance from which it was deployed.
Hall told The Morehead Minute that IIB substantiated the case because the staff member deployed OC spray from less than three feet between the employee and juvenile, which did not comply with departmental policy.
The Cabinet says IIB reviews every deployment of OC spray and potential use of force within the Department of Juvenile Justice to determine whether the employee's actions complied with training and policy.
When OC spray or physical force is determined to have been used inappropriately, the Department takes corrective action, according to Hall.
KSP also is notified of incidents involving potential use of force so that state police can determine whether criminal charges against a juvenile or staff member may be appropriate.
Second Investigation Also Substantiated
The Morehead Minute subsequently asked the Cabinet about the second IIB investigation involving the same employee.
Hall confirmed Wednesday that the findings in that case were substantiated as well.
"The former employee was found to have engaged in inappropriate physical contact," Hall told The Morehead Minute. "IIB investigated and substantiated the findings against the former employee."
The Cabinet did not provide additional details concerning the nature of that inappropriate physical contact.
Because the facility houses juveniles and confidentiality laws restrict the disclosure of information that could identify them, The Morehead Minute is not seeking or publishing the identities of any juveniles involved.
Employee Resigned Before Discipline Could Be Issued
According to the Cabinet, the employee involved in both substantiated cases is no longer employed by the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Hall said the employee resigned before the Department could issue discipline.
However, the resignation was accepted "with prejudice."
According to Hall, that means the former employee cannot be employed again by the Department of Juvenile Justice or any other agency within the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet.
The Morehead Minute is not identifying the former employee at this time.
KSP Investigating
Hall initially clarified that KSP had not been called to MYDC on August 11 in response to a new incident occurring that day.
Instead, she said state police were at the facility investigating the two recent IIB cases as part of standard procedure.
The August 11 KSP Post 8 radio transmission obtained by The Morehead Minute shows a trooper being requested to respond to the Morehead Youth Development Center in connection with an internal investigation that dispatch said had been substantiated and forwarded to KSP.
Hall has since confirmed that Kentucky State Police was notified concerning the substantiated cases.
No criminal charges arising from either matter have been announced at this time.
A substantiated administrative finding should not, by itself, be interpreted as a criminal conviction or a determination of criminal liability. Any decision concerning potential criminal charges would be made through the appropriate law enforcement and prosecutorial process.
The Morehead Minute Investigation Continues
This story is not over.
The Morehead Minute has filed a formal Kentucky Open Records Act request with the Department of Juvenile Justice seeking additional documentation concerning the two IIB investigations.
Among the records requested are the final investigative findings and dispositions of the two cases; records concerning administrative action and the employee's resignation with prejudice; records documenting notification or referral to Kentucky State Police; and the DJJ policies governing OC spray and use of force that were in effect when the incidents occurred.
DJJ acknowledged receipt of the request and assigned it DJJ ORR 26-105. The Department has advised The Morehead Minute that a response to the records request will be provided on August 25, 2026.
There will be another story.
When DJJ responds to the records request, The Morehead Minute will review the documents and report any additional information that can legally and responsibly be made public.
The Morehead Minute began working on this investigation on August 13. We deliberately chose not to rush an unverified allegation onto Facebook or into the newsletter. Instead, we spent several days seeking confirmation, questioning state officials and documenting what actually occurred.
That process revealed that there were not merely rumors concerning the Morehead Youth Development Center. The Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet has now confirmed two separate IIB cases involving the same former employee were substantiated, the employee subsequently resigned before discipline could be issued, the resignation was accepted with prejudice, and Kentucky State Police was notified.
The Morehead Minute will continue following this investigation.
This exclusive report is courtesy of our partners at Fresh Start Health
