A former Laurel County school administrator who was pardoned this month by Gov. Matt Bevin had been sentenced to prison in 2013 after pleading guilty to possessing child inappropriate contentography.
Charles Douglas Phelps, 60, was also ordered in November 2013 to
register as a sex offender for 20 years after pleading guilty to possession of sexual matter depicting a minor in a sexual performance and tampering with a witness.
But Bevin's pardon, which the Republican governor issued during his last day in office on Dec. 9, means Phelps will be removed from the sex offender registry.
Phelps would no longer required to report where he lives or to remain more than 1,000 yards from a school or child care facility, as Kentucky statutes dictate.
"None of that is a requirement anymore due to the fact that he got a pardon," said Jackie Steele, the commonwealth's attorney for Knox and Laurel counties who prosecuted Phelps. "If someone were to attempt to do a criminal history background check, there would be no notification to them of any such conviction. It's as if it never happened."
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