Federal indictment shows Constant’s charges involve 3 minors in incidents dating back to 2019

According to new information in the federal indictment, former Owensboro Public Schools principal Matthew D. Constant allegedly contacted three minors to entice them to perform sexual acts, receive child pornography or send obscene material. The incidents date back to 2019.

Constant, 52, is charged with two counts of online enticement of a minor, three counts of receiving child pornography, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of transmitting obscene material to a minor.

On August 14, 2024, he was indicted by a federal grand jury.

The indictment identifies the minors as John Doe 1, John Doe 2, and John Doe 3. The document details Constant’s alleged crimes between 2019 and 2023.

According to the indictment, Constant, “using a facility and means of interstate commerce, knowingly and willfully persuaded, incited, enticed, and coerced” “two minors, both of whom were under the age of 18 at the time of the respective incidents,” to engage in sexual activity. The indictment says those incidents occurred between November and December 2019 for John Doe 1, and in May 2021 for John Doe 2.

The indictment alleges that Constant received child pornography on three occasions in December 2019.

The indictment further alleges that Constant transferred obscene material to John Doe 1 in December 2019 and to John Doe 2 in May 2021. Both minors were under the age of 16 at the time of their respective incidents, the indictment states.

The indictment also alleges that in May 2021 (John Doe 2) and April 2023 (John Doe 3), Constant “willfully persuaded, incited, enticed, and coerced” the minors to “engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct and for the purpose of transmitting a live visual depiction of such conduct, knowing and having reason to know that such visual depiction would be transported and transmitted utilizing all means and facilities of interstate and foreign commerce.”

The charges remained unsealed until Aug. 19, when Constant appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Brent Brennenstuhl in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. According to documents obtained by the Owensboro Times, Constant was in custody via video/audio conference from the Henderson County Detention Center.

Constant pleaded not guilty and waived his right to a detention hearing. The judge ordered Constant to remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The next hearing, a conference call, is scheduled for Sept. 9, with Chief Justice Greg N. Stivers presiding.

A federal prosecutor filed a motion for a protective order for evidence in the case. The judge granted a protective order for the summaries of the victims’ interviews and electronic communications between the victims and Constant. The order states that there is to be no copying or further distribution of the materials.

Constant faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine the sentence after considering sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is being investigated by FBI Owensboro and the Kentucky State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting this case.

If you or your minor dependent(s) have information about Constant, you are asked to contact the FBI at (email protected). Authorities said responses are voluntary, but may be helpful in the federal investigation to identify you or your child as a potential victim. Victims may be eligible for certain services, restitution and rights under federal and/or state laws.