RUSSELLVILLE, Ky. — A Logan County man and school district employee has been charged with multiple felony counts related to child sexual abuse material following an undercover investigation by the Kentucky State Police Electronic Crime Branch.

Austin Cole Epley, 25, of Russellville, was arrested Tuesday after investigators executed a search warrant at a residence in Russellville, according to Kentucky State Police.

State police said the investigation began after the Electronic Crime Branch discovered a suspect allegedly sharing images of child sexual exploitation online as part of an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children investigation.

Investigators served the search warrant Aug. 4 and seized electronic equipment that will be examined at the Kentucky State Police forensic laboratory. The investigation remains ongoing.

Epley is charged with eight counts of distribution of matter portraying a minor in a sexual performance involving a child younger than 12. Each charge is a Class C felony punishable by five to 10 years in prison upon conviction.

He was lodged in the Logan County Detention Center.

Following the arrest, Logan County Schools Superintendent Dan Costellow said the district removed Epley from his position.

“I have learned that an employee of the Logan County School District has been arrested by the Kentucky State Police today, has been removed from work, and is in custody,” Costellow said in an initial statement. “I have taken appropriate action to remove this individual from the District.”

Costellow said the district’s priority is student safety.

“The safety of our students is always our highest priority, and we will ensure that the employee is not permitted on our school grounds until this matter has been resolved,” he said.

In a subsequent update to staff and families, Costellow said he had spoken with Kentucky State Police detectives and that, based on the information available, the investigation is not connected to any current or former Logan County Schools students.

“The district has also begun an internal investigation and will continue to cooperate fully with local and state law enforcement as their investigation proceeds,” Costellow said.

Kentucky State Police said the investigation was conducted by its Electronic Crime Branch as part of the Kentucky Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a partnership of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies that investigates online crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children.