For the second time this month, a Great Bend man has been arrested on suspicion of sexting.
Ryan Andrew Jacobs, 22, was booked into the Barton County Jail on Wednesday, June 15, on charges of sexual exploitation of a child and unlawful sexual relations. He was released that evening after posting a $50,000 surety bond.
On June 6, Todd Kaiser, a longtime Great Bend USD 428 physical education teacher/coach was booked on a charge of sexual exploitation of a child. He was also released after posting bond.
In both cases, the Barton County Sheriff’s Office obtained search warrants on electronic devices, Sheriff Brian Bellendir said.
The term sexting, which entered the English language in the last decade, refers to the sending of sexually explicit photos, images, text message or emails by using a cell phone or other mobile device.
The sheriff declined to say whether the latest arrest is related to the earlier case or not. “It’s part of a continuing investigation,” Bellendir said.
Jacobs has been employed by the Great Bend Recreation Commission as a part-time supervisor for the last six years. According to GBRC Sports Director Chris Umphres, he was suspended after his arrest.
“It’s a bad deal. We’ll see how it all works out,” Umphres said.
On the social media site LinkedIn.com, Jacobs also lists Rice County Emergency Medical Service and Barton Community College as places where he is currently employed. He has a website for “Ryan’s Emergency Classes” (www.ryansemergencyclasses.com), offering courses on topics such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid. His last CPR class, which was to have taken place last Monday at BCC, was canceled.

“The CPR classes are not offered through Barton, and we do not pay Mr. Jacobs as a CPR instructor,” BCC Director of Public Relations Brandon Steinert said. “That is through the American Heart Association. As an AHA Center, we allow their instructors the use of our facilities, but we do not handle scheduling or any logistics. We just provide facilities.
“Mr. Jacobs has been an adjunct instructor through our EMS department,” Steinert continued. “He has also served as a lab assistant. He is not actively teaching or working for us in those capacities. Our adjunct faculty are contacted and utilized as-needed.”
Jacobs’ LinkedIn resume also describes Jacobs as a nationally certified youth sports coach; it says his GBRC responsibilities include youth and adult officiating and score keeping; he is listed as a coach for all instructional youth sports programs including soccer, T-ball and basketball, as well as swimming instructor.

This story was updated to add employment information from Barton.