Substitute teacher on Mississippi Gulf Coast sentenced to prison for sex crimes

A former substitute teacher from Mississippi has been sentenced to two decades in prison for sex crimes against students.

Keshawn Trevyune Belcher, 22, of Gautier, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of touching a child for lustful purposes and five counts of exploitation of a child. According to a news release from the Jackson County District Attorney's Office, Belcher sent explicit videos to students and admitted in court to kissing a 13-year-old student while working as a substitute teacher at Ocean Springs Middle School.

Belcher also admitted to sending his students videos of himself masturbating via Snapchat and asking them to meet up and “cuddle,” the press release added. The crimes occurred during and after Belcher's time as a substitute teacher at OSMS in April 2023.

District Court Judge Kathy King Jackson sentenced Belcher to a concurrent term of 40 years in prison, with 20 years suspended, leaving him with 20 years to serve in the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

In addition, Belcher must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life after his release.

“This defendant had a responsibility to look out for the well-being of his students,” said District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath. “Instead, he chose to exploit them and use his position of authority to solicit sexual favors. I commend the quick action of the students involved who stood up and brought the defendant's sexual deviance to light. Their courage prevented further escalation of the abuse, protected our children, and ensured that the defendant was held accountable for his crimes.”