Kentucky Teachers Assistant Groomed Girls by ‘Using Their Insecurities’– His Own Words
Shawn Riedesel, a teaching assistant, has been sentenced to more than 36 years in prison for sexually exploiting children. Photo credit: Indiana State Police).
Riedesel pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, according to a public statement by the Justice Department.
Along with his 440-month-long sentence, a judge ordered Riedesel to pay $69,000 in restitution to his victims, and once he serves his time, he will also have to register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, according to the court’s judgment.
Manipulated Underage Girls Into Sending Explicit Images
Court documents state that between December 2021 and July 2022, Riedesel manipulated at least three underage girls into producing and sending sexually explicit images and videos. He also met in person and sexually assaulted at least one child during the timeframe.
During these crimes, he was preparing to become a teacher through the Teach Kentucky program.
It all came to light when one witness learned that Riedesel communicated inappropriately with a 15-year-old girl using a school computer. Court documents state that he led the girl to believe he was 19 instead of 29.
It is also stated that he said to the victim that he’ll help her run away from home so they can meet. The witness contacted Indiana State Police, which led to an investigation and later to his arrest on July 2, 2022, after he arrived to meet the girl at her parents’ house.
During the arrest, his iPhone was seized, while during the court-authorized search of his dorm room and residence, police managed to find printed sexually explicit images, videos of Riedesel engaging in sex acts with a minor, along with a saved “shopping list” on his iPhone with condoms, sex toys and children’s toys.
‘I’m Doing These Things to Turn You Into My Sex Slave’
Riedesel’s iPhone also included a conversation with a 13-year-old girl he pressured to send him images and videos of herself performing explicit things. He sent her the following message:
“They should warn kids about guys like me. Cause we turn innocent underage girls into sex toys for us using their insecurities to lure them into trusting us. Then once they trust us they will do anything sexual for us…I mean that’s what grooming is…Some pedos try to hide the fact that they’re grooming a girl, but she only feels betrayed when she finds out. I like to be open and honest with what I’m doing . . . I’m doing these things to turn you into my sex slave.”
Fortunately, his stiff sentence means he won’t be turning more children into his “sex slaves” any time soon.
Tech Companies Make Court-Ordered Searches Difficult
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, where the case was prosecuted, stated that while law enforcement was doing everything they could to interdict sexual predators who use technology to prey on children, the tech companies were making it unnecessarily difficult.
“Pedophiles like this would-be teacher use technology to find, groom, and exploit our children—from across the river and the country,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “This time, investigators were able to access the digital evidence needed to identify additional victims and secure a serious federal prison sentence. However, many companies are designing their technology to make it impossible to conduct court-authorized searches—hampering our ability to rescue children and hold sexual predators accountable. “
“The protection of our children must be a priority – every child deserves an environment safe from exploitation and abuse,” FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton added.
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