Reaction To Rape Charges Against Teacher

26-year-old Kyle Keegan is accused of statutory rape.  And people in New Underwood, where Keegan is a social sciences teacher, are surprised by the news.

Early Thursday morning, the Rapid City police department took a report involving fourth-degree rape.

"That's identified as the victim being over the age of 13 and under the age of 16, the age of consent," Captain Marty Graves with the Pennington County Sheriff's Department said.

An investigation led authorities to Kyle Keegan's home, where he was arrested Thursday night.

It's unknown at this time whether the victim is a student at New Underwood where Keegan teaches.  Still, the news hit people hard in the rural community.

"I was shocked that it could happen in little, tiny New Underwood.  I graduated from here, so it was a big deal," Tina Brouwers said.

Keegan had just started teaching in the district this year.

"Since it's such a little school, one teacher impacts so many people on a daily basis that it's just a total tragedy," Brouwers said.

And it's news the community is just starting to come to grips with.

"Because we're such a tight-knit community, I think that we'll get through it.  It's going to take a little time, but we're strong enough and we'll definitely get through it," Brouwers said.

Keegan is currently being held on a $50,000 bond.  He made his initial appearance Friday morning and will be in court for his preliminary hearing on October 26.

New Underwood School Superintendent Jeff Marlette says he was shocked to hear about the charges Keegan is facing.  He says the district will decide what action to take once more details are known about the case.