Mercy Athletic trainer pleads not guilty to sex charge involving Carthage High School student

A Mercy Athletic trainer is being held in the Jasper County Detention Center on a $50,000 cash-only bond after being charged with two felony counts of sexual contact with a student.

Ryan Keith Palmer, 53, entered a not guilty plea during a video arraignment Monday in Jasper County Circuit Court.

A bond review hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday before Judge Luke Boyer at the Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage

From the probable cause statement:

On May 6, 2026, officers with the Carthage Police Department received a report of sexual assault.

During a forensic interview, the victim, a 17-year-old student at Carthage High School, disclosed that Ryan Palmer, who was acting in his capacity as a sports trainer providing services to Carthage High School students and affiliated athletic programs, engaged in sexual contact with her.

The victim reported that while alone with Palmer in the school training room, she was positioned on a treatment table when Palmer placed his hands beneath her clothing and undergarments and knowingly touched her breasts and genitals.

The victim stated the contact was sexual in nature and was not consistent with any legitimate medical diagnosis or treatment.

The victim further reported that she did not consent to the contact. Further, she felt like she could not resist due to fear, citing Palmer's physical size, her vulnerable position on the treatment table and her inability call for help.

The victim also disclosed that Palmer provided her with a gift and engaged in grooming-type behavior both prior to and following the incident, further demonstrating his sexual intent and his position of authority and trust over her as a student.

Palmer's account closely corroborated the victim's description of the setting and sequence of events. While he denied the contact was sexual in nature and claimed it was consistent with standard treatment, Palmer admitted that his hand can slip during treatment and acknowledged circumstances consistent with the victim's account.

Palmer further stated he did not believe the victim was lying about the incident and indicated he did not want her to suffer from this incident.

The Carthage R-9 School District has a contract with Mercy to provide athletic trainer services.