CITIZEN STAFF REPORT
SALYERSVILLE — A Magoffin County man got a decade in prison following his conviction on multiple charges related to child sexual exploitation and animal abuse. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced the sentencing Thursday.
Kent Simpkins, 43, of Salyersville, received the 10-year sentence after pleading guilty Nov. 21, 2024, to seven felony counts. The charges include distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material and a sexual offense involving an animal.
The sentencing in Magoffin Circuit Court is the result of a prosecution led by the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Unit.
According to court documents, Simpkins admitted to one count of distributing material depicting the sexual performance of a minor under 12, three counts of possession of such material involving a child under 12, and two counts involving children over 12. He also pleaded guilty to one count related to a sexual crime involving the family dog.
The investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cyber tip about Simpkins uploading sexually explicit images of juveniles to an online social media account. Law enforcement traced the activity to Simpkins’ IP address and social media account.
Authorities executed a search warrant at Simpkins’ residence Feb. 13, 2024. There, they discovered graphic images of minors engaged in sexual acts. They also uncovered videos involving bestiality and one showing Simpkins himself engaging in a sexual act with an animal.
On May 16, 2024, a Magoffin County grand jury indicted him.
Simpkins will be a lifetime registrant on the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry and receive five years of post-incarceration supervision.
“This predator was already far down a dangerous path of criminal activity,” said Attorney General Coleman in a statement. “We are grateful to the team of detectives and prosecutors whose dedicated efforts will ensure this man is kept far away from children.”
The Kentucky State Police Electronic Crimes Branch investigated the case. Assistant Attorney General Lindsey Studebaker prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth.