Former Walt Whitman Crew Coach Sentenced For Sexual Abuse Of Students

BETHESDA, MD — A former teacher and crew coach at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda was sentenced Friday to three years in prison for sexual misconduct with two students, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced.

Kirkland Shipley, 48, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty in D.C. Superior Court in June to sexually abusing a high school student and possessing sexually explicit material of a 17-year-old. As part of his sentence, he must also register for life as a sex offender, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Shipley, who served as the coach of the girls’ crew team, was arrested on Aug. 24, 2021. He was released from custody with an order to stay away from all current and former students and athletes at Walt Whitman High School.

One of the victims was on the girls’ crew team at Walt Whitman High School from 2014 to 2018. Shipley was her head coach from her sophomore to senior year, as well as her history and geography teacher, according to court evidence.

During the student’s sophomore year, Shipley began texting the girl about rowing and personal matters. Shipley brought the girl 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 on the girls’ crew team at Walt Whitman High School from 2009 to 2013. Shipley was her head coach from her sophomore year to her senior year. He also was this girl’s history teacher during her junior year.

During the spring of the girl’s senior year, Shipley began to message her more frequently about rowing and personal matters. A month after her graduation in July 2013, when she was 17, Shipley invited her to his D.C. residence and had sex with her, according to prosecutors. He continued having sex with this victim throughout the summer and after she began college in fall 2013, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

During this time, Shipley possessed sexually explicit photos and videos of the girl, while she was 17, prosecutors said. He also sent this victim photos and videos of his penis and of himself masturbating, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Shipley was sentenced to five years, with two years suspended, on charges of first-degree sexual abuse of a secondary education student and possession of a sexual performance by a minor, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Friday.

RELATED: Whitman Rowing Coach Pleads Guilty To Sex Abuse Charges