Lawrence Man Accused of Sexually Harassing High School Students Now Faces Multiple Rape Charges

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Kenneth Soap is pictured during a motions hearing on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Douglas County District Court.

A Lawrence man is awaiting trial for sexually soliciting multiple pre-teen girls at a Lawrence high school. He has now been charged with multiple sex crimes over the past 16 years.

The suspect, Kenneth W. Soap, 44, was charged Thursday with three counts of aggravated sexual assault, relating to two incidents in May 2008 and one in February 2012, and one count of aggravated criminal sodomy for an incident in May 2008. He was also charged in July with five counts of rape and one count of aggravated sexual assault, dating back to 2009.

For all counts, the complaint lists victims who were unable to give consent, either because of drugs, unconsciousness or physical helplessness. Some counts specifically list a victim who was 16 or older.

Lawrence Police spokeswoman Laura McCabe told the Journal-World the additional charges were a “continuation” of the original investigation.

“Members of our SVU (Special Victims Unit) have been working diligently to examine all digital materials in our possession and identify potential victims,” McCabe said. “We hope that if anyone recognizes the suspect or believes he has harmed them, they will call us.”

Soap is currently being held in the Douglas County Jail and is facing multiple charges of sexual exploitation of a child, aggravated internet trafficking in child pornography, aggravated human trafficking, and sex racketeering.

According to the Journal-World, he was arrested last year after a teacher overheard four female students at Liberty Memorial Central Middle School talking about a man who was calling them and sending them offensive messages on Snapchat.

That wiretapped conversation – about nude photos and obscene requests for 11- and 12-year-olds – led to an investigation into Soap, which uncovered even more disturbing allegations of illicit interactions with more children, including the exchange of pornographic photos and videos for money and the man’s demands that the young girls call him “daddy.”

Soap, who is being held on $250,000 bail, is next scheduled for Oct. 22.