New charges added to former Ocean Springs substitute teacher’s case

A former substitute teacher charged with sex crimes against minors while working at Ocean Springs Middle School last year has been indicted on new charges.

22-year-old Keshawn Tre’Vyun Belcher now faces more than nine charges after an indictment was unsealed.

Belcher has been at the Jackson County jail since his arrest April 26, 2023. His bond was revoked the next day.

In April, a grand jury returned an indictment against Belcher with nine counts — one count of touching a child lustful purposes, five counts of child exploitation and three counts of dissemination of sexually-oriented material to minors. He was served with the indictment while at the Jackson County jail.

The alleged incidents were committed against two female students and one male student at the middle school. There also are three cases filed in U.S. District Court against Belcher, the Ocean Springs School District and Kelly Services related to the case.

Belcher was hired as a substitute teacher through a contractor, Kelly Services, who was responsible for vetting him.

Ocean Springs School District Spokesman Trey Brannan told News 25 after Belcher’s arrest that the vetting process included a signed affidavit from Kelly Services starting that any employees provided have passed a federal background check.

State law requires all teachers to have a background check and a current child abuse registry check prior to employment.

Prior to Belcher’s arrest, school administrators were informed by a student that Belcher, who was working at the middle school the week prior as a substitute through Kelly Services, a temp agency contracted by the district.

Campus police investigated and discovered evidence that led them to ask Ocean Springs Police for help.

Belcher’s Facebook page shows that he graduated from Pascagoula High School but is originally from Shreveport, Louisiana.