Kentucky Teacher Convicted of Sexually Abusing Incarcerated Student but Acquitted in Alleged Murder Plot
ADAIR COUNTY, KENTUCKY — A 28-year-old teacher accused of sexually abusing a teenage inmate at a Kentucky juvenile detention facility has been convicted on multiple charges but acquitted of soliciting the murder of her husband, officials confirmed.
Elena Bardin, a married mother of one, was found guilty of sexual abuse, unlawful transaction with a minor, and distribution of obscene material to a minor following a two-day trial in Adair County Circuit Court. However, the jury found her not guilty on the charge of solicitation of murder.
Teacher’s Relationship with Juvenile Inmate Led to Arrest
Bardin, who worked as an English teacher at the Adair Juvenile Detention Center, was arrested in April after investigators discovered she had engaged in sexual activity with a teenage male inmate and sent him explicit letters and materials.
Court records obtained by PEOPLE reveal that Bardin touched the victim’s genitals during multiple encounters inside the facility. The letters recovered from the teen’s room reportedly contained graphic sexual content.
The most disturbing allegation came when prosecutors claimed Bardin solicited the teen to murder her 49-year-old husband, Michael Bardin, with whom she shared a five-year-old child.
Jury Delivers Mixed Verdict After Two-Day Trial
During the September trial, both the victim and Michael Bardin, her estranged husband, testified for the prosecution.
Bardin chose not to testify in her own defense, and her attorneys called no witnesses. After deliberation, the jury returned a split verdict — convicting Bardin on the sexual abuse and obscenity-related charges but clearing her of the alleged murder solicitation.
The jury recommended 14 years in prison total — four years for sexual abuse and 10 years for the unlawful transaction with a minor, to be served consecutively.
“The jury clearly distinguished between the sexual misconduct and the unproven solicitation charge,” said one court observer following the verdict.
Defense Seeks New Trial as Sentencing Nears
Bardin’s attorney has filed a motion seeking to overturn the verdict or secure a new trial, claiming the alleged victim’s testimony was inconsistent and unreliable.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 13, where the court will decide whether to follow the jury’s recommendation.
Meanwhile, Bardin is also facing a separate custody battle after her husband filed for divorce and sole custody of their 5-year-old child shortly after her arrest.
Case Highlights Concerns Over Misconduct in Juvenile Facilities
The case has drawn attention to teacher misconduct in correctional settings, especially those involving vulnerable juvenile detainees. State officials have called for tighter hiring and oversight policies in youth facilities to prevent similar incidents.
Bardin remains held in Adair County Regional Jail pending sentencing.
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