Kevin Real, chair of the UK Department of Communication, was arrested Thursday and charged with incest, first degree sexual abuse of a victim under 12 years of age and first degree sodomy.

According to the arrest citation, Real sexually abused the victim, a relative, when they were six years old and again in July 2022.

According to UK spokesperson Jay Blanton, Real, 65,  has been placed on administrative leave and is not on campus.

In an email to the College of Communication and Information faculty and staff, Dean Jennifer Greer called the event “terribly upsetting to our community.”

“Do know that all involved are taking this matter seriously, and we are working through established university processes,” she said.

The arrest was made at 342 Waller Avenue by the Lexington Police Department.

Real was scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment hearing Friday at 1 p.m. According to the Fayette County jail website, a full cash bond of $15,000 has been set for his charge of sodomy, and Real’s disposition status is “with electronic monitoring.”

He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 7.

Real has been a professor at UK since 2002, according to his CV. He became department chair in 2020, according to the College of Communication and Information’s website.

This is a developing story.