Prosecutors Move to Dismiss Coach's Obscenity Charge
Fayette County prosecutors asked a court to drop an obscene matter charge against Henry Clay football coach Phillip Hawkins.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Football
The Fayette County Attorney's office filed a motion Thursday to dismiss a charge of distributing obscene matter to minors against Henry Clay football coach Phillip Hawkins. Prosecutors say the photographs at issue do not rise to obscene material.
Why it matters
The motion means the criminal case against a high school coach may end before trial, while the school district's internal inquiry and personnel process continue separately. For Lexington families, it highlights how allegations involving student athletes are handled both in court and by the school.
Prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the obscene matter charge on Thursday, and Hawkins is due in Fayette District Court Monday for a judge to consider the request. The judge's ruling on the dismissal has not yet been reported.
The players
Phillip Hawkins
Phillip Hawkins is the Henry Clay High School football coach facing an obscene matter charge involving minor players.
Fayette County Attorney's Office
The Fayette County Attorney's Office is the prosecuting agency that filed the motion to dismiss the charge against Hawkins.
Fayette County Public Schools
Fayette County Public Schools is the district that placed Hawkins on administrative leave and has declined to disclose details citing its personnel policy.
The details
Hawkins is alleged to have shown images of a nude woman to players who were minors, and prosecutors do not dispute that he showed the photographs. However, the Fayette County Attorney's office contends the images do not qualify as obscene material, and Hawkins has called the accusation ridiculous.
Timeline
April 20: Alleged incident at 2100 Fontaine Road, the address of Henry Clay High School.
August: An online court citation lists multiple juvenile victims.
Aug. 12: Classes began and Hawkins was placed on administrative leave.
Thursday: Prosecutors filed the motion to dismiss.
Monday: Hawkins is due in Fayette District Court for the judge's consideration.
Legal Context
The case turns on whether the photographs meet the obscenity threshold under Kentucky's statute prohibiting distribution of obscene matter to minors. Prosecutors' position that the images fall short of that threshold will shape how similar allegations are charged in Fayette County.
If the court grants the motion, the criminal charge against Hawkins will be dropped, but the school's internal inquiry and personnel decision remain separate matters. Fans and families following Henry Clay football should watch for updates on the coaching position, where Tim McCoy is serving as interim head coach.
The takeaway
Allegations involving minors in school athletic programs can lead to parallel legal and administrative processes that move on different timelines. Readers following the case should track both the court date and any school district announcements.
What happens next
Hawkins is due in Fayette District Court Monday, when a judge will consider the prosecutors' motion to dismiss the charge.
Further reading
For more local coverage, see the Football section.
