A 24-year-old youth minister from Corydon is headed to federal prison for nearly a decade after admitting he possessed child sexual abuse material, a case that rippled across the Ohio River and pulled in a former Kentucky school superintendent.
Aaron Paul Lockman was sentenced Friday to nine years in federal prison, ordered to serve five years of supervised release after that, and told to pay $9,000 in restitution, according to federal prosecutors. Investigators say the trail to Lockman started when agents dug into WhatsApp messages and illegal images uncovered after a Kentucky school official was arrested.
Federal Sentence And Charges
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Indiana, Lockman pleaded guilty to nine counts of possessing sexually explicit material involving minors. A federal judge sentenced him Friday to nine years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. The office also noted that Lockman was ordered to pay $9,000 in restitution.
Link To Owensboro School Superintendent
Local reporting from WFIE says the investigation widened after FBI agents arrested Matthew D. Constant, then-superintendent of Owensboro Public Schools, in March 2024. Agents uncovered WhatsApp conversations between Constant and Lockman that included discussions of sexual interest in children and the exchange of illegal images. Reporting from K105 and other outlets indicates Constant was later sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.
What Investigators Say They Found
Prosecutors and federal agents say Lockman was working as a youth minister at a church in Jasper and was trusted to supervise young boys, including during one-on-one outings. A search of a church-issued computer and of Lockman’s phone allegedly turned up multiple videos depicting minors under the age of 12, including material that showed abusive conduct. The U.S. attorney’s office says the sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman.
Investigators, Partners And Local Response
Officials say the FBI Indianapolis field office and the Evansville Police Department led the investigation, and the Evansville Police Department highlighted the sentencing on its Facebook page. Local coverage has echoed federal statements that protecting children remains a top priority as authorities continue working to identify any additional victims and preserve digital evidence.
Resources For Victims
If you or someone you know may have been affected, contact your local police department or the FBI tipline. Additional resources and reporting options are available through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Tips to federal authorities can be submitted through the FBI tipline and the NCMEC CyberTipline at report.cybertip.org.
