Former LMPD Officer Sentenced For Civil Rights’ Violation – Explorer Program | USAO-WDKY

LOUISVILLE, KY. – United States District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings today sentenced Brad Lee Schuhmann to two years probation, six months at home, sex offender registration and a $ 2,000 fine. The 32-year-old shoemaker from Louisville, Kentucky previously pleaded guilty to Judge Jennings for disenfranchising rights under the color of the law. According to his plea agreement, Schuhmann will register as a sex offender.

“This conviction completes the third prosecution related to the LMPD Explorer program,” said acting US attorney Bennett. “I recommend AUSA Lawless and the men and women of the FBI and LMPD in Louisville who investigated criminal behavior related to the program.”

According to the Plea Agreement, Schuhmann took part in the explorer program of the Louisville Metro Police Department from May 2002 to April 2009 as an explorer. In April 2009 he applied for a position as a sworn LMPD officer. Several people associated with the Explorer program, including the program director and other consultants, wrote letters of recommendation for Schuhmann. LMPD hired Schuhmann as a police officer. After completing the training academy, he was sworn in and took the oath of office on January 29, 2010. Schuhmann remained involved in the Explorer program during his apprenticeship and, after being sworn in as a police officer, took on a more formal advisory role with LMPD.

While working with the Explorer program as a consultant, Schuhmann met Jane Doe, a minor who was participating in the program as an Explorer. The two communicated by mobile phone, including SMS. Schuhmann met Jane Doe outside of Explorer program activities, including at her home and other locations in Louisville. During these meetings and communications, Schuhmann was in a position of authority or special trust due to his role as an advisor to the Explorer program and came in contact with Jane Doe because of that position. When the two met at her home and elsewhere, Schuhmann exposed Jane Doe to sexual contact.

United States Assistant Attorney Jo E. Lawless has been pursuing the Explorer program cases. The investigations were conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Public Integrity Division of the Louisville Metro Police Department under the Louisville Public Corruption and Civil Rights Task Force.

####

This case was brought forward in May 2006 as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Justice Department initiative to tackle the growing epidemic of sexual exploitation and abuse of children. Under the direction of the United States law firms and the Department of Child Exploitation and Profanity of the Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood is collecting federal, state, and local resources to locate, arrest, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children track and identify and rescue victims. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information on online safety education, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click the Resources tab.