Former Murray High teacher enters Alford plea to rape, sexual abuse charges

The former Murray High School teacher who was charged last year after a former student came forward with new evidence pleaded guilty Tuesday to third-degree rape and first-degree sexual abuse.

Jason Shelby, 47, entered guilty pleas pursuant to North Carolina v. Alford. In an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges that the evidence would likely result in a conviction at trial.

Under the plea agreement, prosecutors recommend five years on each charge, to run concurrently for a total sentence of five years.

The plea agreement also calls for Shelby to have no contact with the victim and requires him to undergo HIV testing. Shelby will also be subject to lifetime sex offender registration. Graves County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Powers, who has served as special prosecutor in the case, said he will oppose probation and shock probation.

Shelby taught history at MHS and was involved with the school’s academic team and band. In 2013, after former students and a teacher raised concerns about his interactions with students, then-Murray Independent School District Superintendent Bob Rogers gave Shelby a private reprimand, barred him from extracurricular activities and filed a report with the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board after an investigation by the school board’s attorney did not yield enough evidence to warrant termination, according to WKMS.

Five years later, the EPSB referred the matter to Kentucky State Police for possible criminal activity. KSP began investigating Shelby in August 2018, but investigators said they did not have enough evidence at the time to obtain an arrest warrant. Shelby resigned from MHS that October and voluntarily surrendered his teaching certificate the following year.

The case moved forward in August 2025 after a former student contacted KSP and agreed to cooperate with the investigation. According to the complaint warrant, the woman told investigators she had repeated sexual encounters with Shelby from May 2008 to January 2009, beginning when she was 15 and Shelby was 30. She also provided emails that investigators said corroborated portions of her account.

Shelby is scheduled to appear in Calloway Circuit Court for sentencing at 8:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2.