Feds Charge Third Officer From Explorer Program

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A Louisville Metro Police Department Officer involved with the Explorer Program has been charged with deprivation of rights under the color of law, announced U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman.  The grand jury charged Schuhmann, while acting under color of law, with willfully depriving Jane Doe, a minor, of a right secured and protected by the Constitution and laws of the United States; that is, the right not to be deprived of liberty without due process of law, which includes the right not to have her bodily integrity violated by a person acting under color of law.  This offense involved sexual abuse in the first degree under Ky. Rev. Stat. § 510.110(d).

“Justice delayed in the still-ongoing Explorers investigation, by a pandemic, civil unrest, and other hurdles, does not mean justice denied. While I regret the time it has taken us to get to this point, I am proud of the dogged work of career prosecutors, the Louisville Public Corruption & Civil Rights Task Force, and our partners in the Jefferson Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman. “In stark contrast to those predators with a badge that our office has successfully prosecuted, this city is blessed by some of the finest law enforcement professionals in the nation; federal, state, and local.” 

Brad Lee Schuhmann, 32, of Louisville, Kentucky, resigned from LMPD on November 4, 2020.  He pled guilty to the Indictment on November 16, 2020. 

According to a Plea Agreement, from May 2002 until April 2009, Schuhmann participated in the Louisville Metro Police Department Explorer Program as an Explorer.  In April 2009, he applied for an LMPD sworn officer position.  Several people associated with the Explorer Program, including the director of the program and other advisors, wrote letters of recommendation for Schuhmann.  LMPD hired Schuhmann as a police officer.  Upon completion of 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 training period and took on a more formal advisor role after being sworn in as a police officer with LMPD.

While working with the Explorer Program as an advisor, Schuhmann met Jane Doe, a minor participating in the program as an Explorer.  The two communicated by cellular telephone, including texting.  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 with the Explorer Program.  He came into contact with Jane Doe as a result of that position. When the two met at her home and other locations, Schuhmann subjected Jane Doe to sexual contact.

The charge of deprivation of rights under color of law is a federal misdemeanor. The defendant faces no more than one year in prison, a $100,000.00 fine, or both prison and a fine.  He also faces one year of federal Supervised Release.  Under the terms of his Plea Agreement, Schuhmann will register as a sex offender.

The United States Attorney’s Office previously prosecuted two other LPMD officers associated with the Explorer Program, Brandon Wood and Kenneth Betts. Wood was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment followed by 10 years’ supervised release for attempted enticement. Betts was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment followed by 20 years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty in December of 2018 to enticement, attempted enticement, possession of child pornography, transfer of obscene materials to a minor, and distribution of child pornography.

Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless prosecuted the cases. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Louisville Metro Police Department’s Public Integrity Unit as part of the Louisville Public Corruption and Civil Rights Task Force. Federal prosecution of Mr. Schumann, like that of the two previous Explorers-related convictions, was achieved through close coordination with the Jefferson Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

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