Kentucky State Police Arrest Two Head Start Employees for Child Abuse Offenses

SPRINGFIELD, Ky. (September 2, 2026) – Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 15 Troopers and Detectives have arrested two Springfield Head Start employees following an investigation into allegations of child abuse involving two students. 

In June 2026, KSP Post 15 received a request for assistance from the Kentucky Department of Community-Based Services (DCBS) to investigate allegations of a possible child abuse incident that had occurred at the Springfield branch of Central Kentucky Head Start.  Detective James Ford responded to the school, began an investigation into the incident, and uncovered two separate incidents of abuse between two juvenile students and a substitute teacher’s aide, Diana Sanders, age 68, of Lebanon.  Detective Ford also discovered that Janey Chesser, age 43, of Springfield, a school supervisor, was aware of the incidents and failed to report them.  Both Ms. Sanders and Ms. Chesser were employed by Central Kentucky Head Start at the time of the alleged incidents.

On August 19, 2026, the investigation was presented to the Washington County Grand Jury, which returned an indictment on Diana Sanders, charging her with 2 counts of Criminal Abuse 1st Degree – Child Age 12 or Under.  Furthermore, the grand jury also returned an indictment on Janey Chesser, charging her with 2 counts of Criminal Abuse 1st Degree – Child Age 12 or Under, along with 1 count of Failure to Report Child Abuse or Neglect 1st Degree.

Last night, Senior Trooper Trevor Sagrecy served the indictments on Diana Sanders and Janey Chesser.  Both were subsequently arrested, lodged in the Marion County Detention Center, and are being held on a $25,000 bond.

The investigation remains ongoing and is being led by Detective Ford. 

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