PIKEVILLE, Ky. — The future of the repeatedly delayed child porn case against a Pike County woman could be settled tomorrow, when a hearing takes place to determine if she is competent to stand trial.

Pamela Denise Sargent, of Kimper, was indicted on a federal charge of production of child porn in July of 2024.

The case began with a child porn investigation in Missouri, where a Park Hills man was arrested for possessing and promoting child porn and sexual exploitation of a minor. The man told police he had received sexually-explicit videos from a Kentucky woman and her daughter, who he believed to be 18.

Police found the videos, as well as the emails which contained them. That allowed them to trace the videos back to Sargent. Court records describe two of the videos, which allegedly show Sargent engaging in sexual acts with two children, believed to be between the ages of 3 and 5.

The case has been set for trial and then delayed four times. The most recent issue has been whether or not Sargent is competent to stand trial. Her attorney, Patrick O’Neill, wrote in a motion that he had reason to believe she “does not understand the nature and consequences of these proceedings against her and she is unable to properly assist in her defense.”

Both the prosecution and defense have lined up expert witnesses who have reached different conclusions about Sargent’s state of mind.

The competency hearing will take place tomorrow in the Lexington federal courthouse.