Whitman Rowing Coach Pleads Guilty To Sex Abuse Charges

BETHESDA, MD — A former Walt Whitman High School teacher and rowing coach pleaded guilty Friday to charges in the case of sexual abuse of two former students, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia announced Friday.

Kirkland Shipley, 48, pleaded guilty Friday in Superior Court of the District of Columbia to first-degree sexual abuse of a secondary education student and to possession of a sexual performance by a minor, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release.

Shipley will be sentenced in September and will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Shipley was accused of abusing two girls who were rowers on his team and students in his class, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Shipley brought one victim to his house, where he sexually abused her at least twice in May 2018, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

The other victim was his student when she was a junior. During her senior year, Shipley messaged her on GChat, according to the news release. Shipley and the victim, who was 17 at the time, had a sexual relationship after she graduated in 2013 and when she began college, the news release said.

Shipley is no longer employed by Walt Whitman High School. When he was arrested, he was ordered to stay away from all current and former students and athletes, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.