Police say Kayla Barrett entered a sideline scuffle and grabbed a Wayne County player by the neck before leaving the scene.
MONTICELLO, Ky. — A 36-year-old Kentucky woman faces a felony charge after police say she ran into a confrontation during a high school football game and strangled a teenage Wayne County player, leaving him with difficulty breathing and sending him to a hospital for evaluation.
Kayla Barrett, of East Bernstadt, was charged with second-degree strangulation following the Oct. 30 game between Wayne County High School and North Laurel High School, according to the Monticello Police Department. Police said the student was treated at the Wayne County Hospital emergency room after the incident. He was later released, and authorities said they expected him to recover.
The confrontation began after a Wayne County player carrying the ball was tackled near or beyond the sideline, according to police accounts. The play developed into a scuffle involving players. Monticello Assistant Police Chief Joshua Smith said Barrett, who had been near the sideline, moved toward the commotion and became involved.
Smith told local news outlets that Barrett grabbed a Wayne County athlete from behind by the neck and began choking and shaking him. The player later told investigators that the encounter made it difficult for him to breathe. Police have not publicly identified the student because he is a minor.
Officers were called to the Wayne County Hospital emergency room after the game to investigate an assault report. Investigators said they determined that a female spectator had allegedly approached the player from behind during the game. Kentucky State Police helped Monticello officers identify Barrett as the suspect, according to police.
Monticello police then filed a criminal complaint in Wayne District Court and obtained an arrest warrant. Kentucky State Police later took Barrett into custody, and she was booked into the Laurel County Detention Center on the second-degree strangulation charge. PEOPLE reported, citing jail records, that Barrett was later released after posting a $5,000 cash bond.
Barrett is accused of leaving the area after the confrontation. Smith said she drove away shortly after the incident but that an officer was able to identify her. Police have not publicly described a motive or explained what relationship, if any, Barrett had to anyone involved in the game.
The Monticello Police Department said violence has no place at school athletic events and emphasized that student-athletes should be able to compete without fearing attacks or intimidation. Police said heightened emotions during a competitive game do not justify physical violence against players, coaches, officials or spectators.
The charge against Barrett is an allegation, and the available reports do not indicate that the case has been resolved in court. Authorities have not released additional details about the player’s injuries beyond saying he had difficulty breathing, was evaluated at a hospital and was expected to be OK.
Barrett had been released on bond as of the latest reports. The criminal case remains pending, and no final determination of guilt has been made.
Author note: Last updated November 10, 2026.