KY: AG defending state law requiring child sex offers to use full name on social media

Source: amnews.com 10/17/24 As a parent, I’m grateful to my own State Senator, Lindsey Tichenor, and Kentucky’s legislators who are protecting our children from predators,” Coleman stated. “This statute doesn’t ban any speech, but it simply empowers kids and their parents to know who may be lurking in the shadows of the internet. The law clearly passes constitutional muster, and we hope the Sixth Circuit will quickly allow it to take full effect.” The brief noted, “The law is therefore little different than sex-offender registry laws, whose constitutionality is not…

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KY: “Tough on Crime” Republican Attorney General Candidate Is Soft on Sex Offenders

Source: newrepublic.com 9/12/23 Russell Coleman’s bid to become Kentucky’s top lawyer has dredged up a troubling record of lenience. The Republican candidate for Kentucky attorney general, Russell Coleman, is campaigning on a promise to be tough on crime, particularly crimes against children. But before running for attorney general, he served as U.S. attorney for the western district of Kentucky—and a closer look at his track record there shows a frightening laxity regarding sex offenders. Coleman’s campaign comes at a time when state attorneys general exert increasing influence over how laws…

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KY: Mixed Messages of Sex offenders in Ashcamp

Source: news-expressky.com 5/19/23 When businesses pick up additional profit centers, it’s called line extension. … The extension of services that WestCare has embarked upon since 2019 is a halfway house for registered sex offenders. In a quick search of sex offenders in the 41512 zip code, which includes Ashcamp, there are 156 registered sex offenders. And over 80 of those have the same address; 10057 Elkhorn Creek Road, which is the same address for WestCare. … The halfway house provides a place for sex offenders who have committed crimes, served…

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KY: Senate panel advances bill supporting child sex-abuse victims

[forwardky.com – 3/16/21] A bill that would extend the statute of limitations for misdemeanor sex offenses involving minors from five to ten years after their eighteenth birthday is progressing through the Legislature. Written by Nadia Ramlagan of Kentucky News Connection Supporters of House Bill 472, sponsored by Rep. Lynn Bechler, R-Marion, said it will help more survivors be heard and their perpetrators held accountable. Nationwide, one in four girls and one in thirteen boys will experience sexual abuse, and 34% of all victims are younger than 12, according to data…

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KY: House bill would help pregnant inmates, increase time to file charges in sexual abuse cases

[messenger-inquirer.com – 3/4/21] … The committee also approved a bill to require the Parole Board to notify victims of class D felony sexual offenses that the perpetrator is eligible for parole, a bill to allow juvenile victims of sex offense more time to file charges, and a bill that would give judges discretion when deciding whether a juvenile criminal case should be transferred to adult court. … The committee also approved House Bill 47, which increases the time a person who was the victim of a misdemeanor sexual offense can…

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KY: A third Louisville police officer has pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor in Explorer program

[wdrb.com – 11/16/20] LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A third Louisville Metro Police officer has pleaded guilty to sexual abusing a minor while serving as a mentor in the department’s youth Explorer program. Former Officer Brad ____ faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court on Monday to a misdemeanor charge of sexual abuse. ____ , who resigned from the department earlier this month, will be sentenced March 10, and prosecutors indicated they would recommend six months incarceration. The judge will…

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KY: AG asks FBI to investigate former Gov. Bevin’s controversial pardons

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron has sent a formal request to the FBI asking for an investigation into controversial pardons made by former Gov. Matt Bevin in his last weeks in office. … “I am particularly concerned about the risk to the public by those previously convicted of sex offenses, who by virtue of the state pardon, will not fall under any post-release supervision or be required to register as sex offenders,” Coleman said at a news conference. Full Article

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KY: Louisville launches a registry for animal abusers

[wave3.com – 10/23/19] A new Animal Abuser Registry in Louisville is expected to prevent pets from falling into the hands of people with a history of animal abuse. Approved by Louisville Metro Council and administered by Louisville Metro Animal Services (LMAS), the registry is similar to a sex offender registry. Anyone who lives in the Louisville Metro and is guilty of animal cruelty is required to keep their name on a list for two years after a conviction. Pet stores, shelters or rescue groups are also required to check the…

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KY: ‘It will also prevent this from happening again.’ Neighbors, including local prosecutor, sought park to displace sex offender

In a neighborhood of broad lawns and trees, residents wanted one of their neighbors to leave – and they seized on an unusual way to try and get the city’s help to force him out. The drama involved a local prosecutor, a sex offender, and a tiny sliver of land along Dixie Highway with a handful of benches and a doggy bag dispenser. In the spring, a registered sex offender moved in next door to Kyle Burns, who also happened to be an assistant Commonwealth attorney for Campbell County. Burns had an…

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NCJFCJ Releases Resolution for Sex Offender Requirements for Youth Under Age 18

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) released its latest resolution regarding sex offender requirements for youth under the age of 18. Research shows that placing youth on sex offender registries does not advance public safety and can actually make communities less safe. Research also shows that re-offending rates for youth who offend sexually are extremely low and that juvenile sexual re-offense risk assessments have been validated for predicting sexual re-offending. Full Press Release RELATED LINKS: KY: Grayson County Sheriff’s Office warns of “sexting” trend among teens [wbko.com -3/28/19]  

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KY: Court to consider if sex offender can be alone with own kids

[apnews.com – 9/20/18] FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Supreme Court has been asked to decide whether a convicted sex offender can spend time alone with his own children. The Courier Journal reports that 33-year-old _____ pleaded guilty to third-degree sodomy of a juvenile male relative in 2007. In 2015, the state learned that _____ was married with two children, who are now 3 and 6. The state won an order from a family court judge barring _____ from being alone with his kids, but a Court of Appeals unanimously…

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KY: Local police department’s new tool reads license plates automatically

[wpsdlocal6.com – 7/7/18] PADUCAH, KY – Another set of eyes are looking out for you, but these ones are electronic. We told you on Tuesday about an under-staffing problem at the Paducah Police Department. They need to hire about six more officers. But in the meantime, the department is getting some help from this pretty cool tool. John Smith is a patrol officer. He’s got a new partner that sits on the top of his car. “It doesn’t change my duties a lot. The license plate reader kind of does…

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KY: Committee hears sex offender’s social media bill

[ocmonitor.com] FRANKFORT, Ky. — A bill on sex offender’s use of social media was approved today by the Senate Judiciary Committee. House Bill 70 is trying to clarify and revise Kentucky’s restrictions on internet access for registered sex offenders. Sponsor Rep. Joseph M. Fischer, R-Fort Thomas, said he introduced the measure after a unanimous decision by U.S. Supreme Court in June of last year struck down a similar North Carolina ban. He explained that HB 70 is an attempt to narrowly tailor Kentucky’s statutes as to meet the new judicial…

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KY: A lawmaker accused of molesting a teen killed himself. His widow calls it a ‘high-tech lynching.’

Dan Johnson posted a final message on Facebook to his friends and family Wednesday afternoon. It appeared to be a goodbye. In it, he denied the accusations that had tormented him and his family for the past 48 hours — that he, a Kentucky state representative and the self-proclaimed “Pope” of his Louisville church — had gotten drunk and molested a 17-year-old girl during a sleepover at the church years ago. Full Article

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KY: Children’s Advocacy Center Of The Bluegrass To Receive Funds Resulting From Federal Government’s Forfeiture And Sale Of Residence Owned By Two Men Convicted Of Child Abuse

The United States Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the FBI, the Fayette Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, the Lexington Police Department, and the Children’s Advocacy Center of the Bluegrass (CAC) jointly announced today that a portion of proceeds from the sale of the Lexington residence owned by two men convicted of child abuse will be shared with the CAC. Full Article

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