HAZARD, Ky. — A Perry County man has been given three life sentences for charges related to the sexual abuse of children.

Harrison Cress, 58, of Slemp, was found guilty two counts of first-degree sodomy, one count of incest, and three counts of first-degree sexual abuse back in October. All of the charges dealt with victims younger than 12 years old.

Prosecutors say Cress groomed multiple children, building trust with them so he could eventually exploit them. Five children provided victim statements for during his sentencing on Thursday, detailing the horrors they endured. One letter read, “What you did to me was not right … I am happy you’re in jail.” A young relative who suffered abuse at Cress’ hands wrote, “I couldn’t understand why someone so close to me hurt me.”

At the time he was found guilty, the jury recommended three life sentences. On Thursday, the judge agreed, giving Cress three life sentences without the possibility of parole.

“When those who harm our kids are held accountable, it tells every survivor their voice matters and that the justice system can protect them,” said Attorney General Coleman, whose office prosecuted the case. “I’m deeply grateful to the Children’s Advocacy Center professionals, law enforcement, prosecutors and advocates who worked with these children to help them find their voice and the courage to put this monster behind bars.”

The case was investigated by Kentucky State Police and the Perry County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant Attorneys General Tony Skeans and Barbara Whaley handled the prosecution.

The post Perry man given three life sentences for incest, sodomy appeared first on Mountain Top Media.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A Pike County man has been arrested on a sexual abuse charge, after he was believed to have fled the area.

George Adkins, 39, of Virgie, is charged with one count of sexual abuse of a child younger than 12. According to the arrest warrant, the charge was filed Nov. 16, after police obtained evidence and victim statements during a forensic interview supporting claims that Adkins had sexually abused a 10-year-old girl.

The warrant goes on to say that when Adkins learned the allegations would be reported to police, he allegedly fled the state and was believed to be living in Tennessee. Jail records in Tennessee show that he was arrested as a fugitive in Knoxville on Feb. 2.

Adkins is now being held in the Pike County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond. If convicted of the charge, he will face a sentence of 5-to-10 years in prison.

The post Pike sex abuse suspect returned to Kentucky after arrest in Tennessee appeared first on Mountain Top Media.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A man sought by Pikeville Police in connection with a pair of sexual assaults targeting female University of Pikeville students in the city parking garage was arrested late Tuesday night.

Terry Weston Rogers, 29, of Pikeville, was booked in the Pike County Detention Center around 11 p.m., Tuesday, on a charge of third-degree sexual abuse. That charge is a misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum of 90 days in jail.

Police had been searching for a man who had assaulted two women, one on Aug. 23 and another on Aug. 27.

The arrest warrant only mentions the Aug. 27 incident, when it alleges that Rogers “unlawfully and intentionally subjected another person, a stranger who was over the age of 18, to sexual contact without consent in the Pikeville Parking Garage.”

Rogers already had three pending criminal cases in Pike County, two for fourth-degree assault dating violence and one for third-degree criminal abuse of a child. All of those charges are also misdemeanors, punishable by up to a year in jail.

In court on Wednesday morning, Rogers pleaded not guilty to the charge. District Judge Tommy May ordered that he could be released to home incarceration after posting a $10,000 surety bond, but he remained in jail at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Police have also obtained a search warrant for Rogers’ College Street apartment, in an effort to locate the clothing and other items that were seen in surveillance video of the suspect.

The post Police arrest suspect in parking garage assaults appeared first on Mountain Top Media.

BELFRY, Ky. — A Belfry man has been arrested after being indicted on rape and other charges involving a minor.

David M. Conley Jr., 51, was arrested Monday morning, following his indictment last week. He is charged with felony counts of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse for incidents that occurred June 3 and 4, last year. He is also charged with a misdemeanor count of unlawful transaction with a minor, for allegedly providing alcohol to the minor.

The rape and sodomy charges are the most serious, carrying potential penalties of 10-to-20 years in prison.

Conley is currently being held without bond in the Pike County Detention Center. He is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment May 30.

The post Pike man charged with rape of minor appeared first on Mountain Top Media.

A Pikeville man was arrested after he was accused of sexual abuse, rape, incest, and sodomy.

The post Pikeville man arrested for alleged sexual abuse and rape appeared first on Mountain Top Media.

SALYERSVILLE, Ky. — A Magoffin County man has been arrested on rape and incest charges, after a female relative accused of him of having sex with her.

Dewayne Hunt, 58, of Salyersville, is charged with second-degree rape, incest and three counts of first-degree sexual abuse. The girl, who is now 17, reported that the rape occurred four years ago, when she was 13.

When interviewed about the allegations, Hunt reportedly denied having sex with her, but did admit to having her touch him on three occasions. However, the police report indicates he contradicted his denial later during the interview.

Hunt was booked in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, where he continues to be held on a $100,000 cash bond.

The post Magoffin man arrested on rape, incest charges appeared first on Mountain Top Media.

SALYERSVILLE, Ky. — A Magoffin County man has been arrested after being indicted on charges of first-degree rape and first-degree sexual abuse.

Michael Young, 42, of Salyersville, was arrested on Friday.

Court records do not elaborate on the allegations against him, except to say that the victim was younger than 12 years old.

Young is being held in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville on a $25,000 cash bond.

The post Magoffin man charged with child rape, sex abuse appeared first on Mountain Top Media.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A Perry County man is facing a felony sexual abuse charge, after allegedly showing a nude photo of himself to an autistic man in the Pikeville Walmart bathroom.

Police were called to a report of a disturbance at the store just before 9 p.m. Friday. When they arrived, a man told them that he had accompanied his 30-year-old autistic son to the restroom, when Jonathon Fultz, 34, of Hazard, allegedly slipped his phone under the stall, showing a picture of his privates.

The father reportedly chased Fultz out of the bathroom.

Police say when they escorted Fultz to the front office for questioning, he yelled obscenities throughout the store.

Fultz has now been charged with first-degree sexual abuse and disorderly conduct. He is currently being held in the Pike County Detention Center.

The post Man charged with sexual abuse for showing nude photo to autistic man appeared first on Mountain Top Media.

MAYKING, Ky. — A Letcher County man has been arrested on multiple counts of sexual abuse, after police were called to investigate one case and other children began coming forward.

Police first received a report from a woman that Stephen Maggard, 56, of Mayking, had touched her 6-year-old daughter inappropriately.

When police went to check it out, the little girl told them the incident happened while they were on a trampoline. The girl’s sister and a boy and girl who are cousins of the sisters also reported instances of inappropriate touching. Two of the children also told police Maggard had made threats to kill all or most of the people in the house with a machete.

When police went to talk to Maggard about the allegations, he reportedly told them he had touched the first girl, but it was an accident. When he was told he was being placed under arrest, the police report notes he stood up, made a fist and pulled back his arm, but he was immediately taken to the ground and arrested.

Maggard is now charged with four counts of sexual abuse, as well as terroristic threatening and resisting arrest. He is being held in the Letcher County jail on a $25,000 cash bond.

The post Letcher man charged with sex abuse appeared first on Mountain Top Media.

PAINTSVILLE, Ky. — A former Kentucky State Police captain who was charged with rape and sex abuse in Magoffin County earlier this year has now been indicted in a second case in Johnson County.

Anthony Taulbee, 48, of Salyersville, is now charged with two counts of third-degree rape and one count of third-degree sodomy in the new case.

Officials close to the case have said it arose out of electronic evidence in the Magoffin County case. The new indictment alleges Taulbee had sexual contact with a 17-year-old on May 21 and 22, 2018.

The charges in Magoffin County involve allegations that Taulbee had sexual contact with a person younger than 18 back in 2018.

All of the charges Taulbee faces in both counties are Class D felonies, punishable by 1-to-5 years in prison.

Taulbee is a retired state trooper who was a former captain at Kentucky State Police Post 9 in Pikeville and later served as commander of Post 6 in Dry Ridge. Following his retirement, he worked as a criminal justice teacher at the Magoffin County Career and Tech Center. He has been suspended from that position without pay since February of 2022.

Taulbee was arrested on the new indictment Friday and later released on his own recognizance. He remains subject to a $20,000 bond in the Magoffin County case.

He is scheduled to appear in Johnson Circuit Court on Dec. 8 for arraignment on the new charges.

The post Former KSP captain charged with rape, sodomy in second indictment appeared first on Mountain Top Media.