by Chris Peterson
Warning: This column contains detailed allegations of sexual abuse of minors.
For years, David Finkel was a central figure in Shelbyville’s cultural scene. As a director at The Strand Theatre and a former vice president of the local school board, he positioned himself as a champion of the arts and a dedicated advocate for education. He was a regular presence at city meetings, promoted community events on local radio, and built a reputation as someone who cared about the future of his town.
That reputation has now collapsed under the weight of federal charges that are as horrifying as they are indefensible.
On June 16, Finkel was arrested by the FBI for the sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography. The charges stem from a months-long investigation that began in April 2024 when a Missouri mother found explicit messages and images on her teenage daughter’s phone. The investigation led authorities to a fake online persona named “Emma” that Finkel allegedly used to solicit images from underage victims through the TextMe app.
Court documents reveal that Finkel’s communications were not isolated incidents. He is accused of using a VoIP number and posing as a woman to lure children into sexually explicit conversations. When federal agents searched his home in early June, they discovered a hidden folder on his phone containing 35 graphic images and videos of minors, including material involving infants and toddlers.
This was not a lapse in judgment. It was a pattern of deliberate, predatory behavior that played out while he held positions of influence and proximity to children. The arrest has sent a wave of shock and fury through Shelbyville, a community now grappling with the unsettling truth that a man trusted by so many was allegedly capable of unthinkable harm.
Finkel’s presence in Shelbyville’s arts scene was deeply embedded. He helped revive local theatre, promoted productions through radio appearances, and often spoke on behalf of The Strand at public forums. He cast himself as a leader, a mentor, and a believer in the transformative power of performance. Now, all of that is clouded by what investigators found on his phone and in his messages. The community is left to confront the awful reality that someone so closely tied to youth engagement was simultaneously, and secretly, targeting young people online.
This is not simply a fall from grace. This is betrayal. Finkel used his standing to gain trust and access. He worked in schools. He directed teenagers on stage. He represented the arts in civic discussions. He sat next to decision-makers. That he may have committed these acts while holding those positions only deepens the sense of outrage.
There are questions that must now be asked, and answered. How did someone under such suspicion go unnoticed for so long? Were there signs that were missed, or warnings that were ignored? What safeguards were in place, and why did they fail? Most urgently, what steps must be taken to ensure this never happens again?
Finkel’s arrest is not only about one man’s crimes. It is about the fragility of trust, the danger of complacency, and the urgent responsibility communities have to protect their most vulnerable. No title can shield someone from accountability. No résumé should exempt anyone from scrutiny. No role in the arts is worth risking the safety of a child.
