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Man sentenced for crimes against children and family dog
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
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Couple arrested after child shows ‘signs of torture’
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN PIKE COUNTY — A Pike County couple is behind bars on charges of first-degree criminal child abuse, kidnapping with serious physical injury, and first-degree assault. Their arrest follows an investigation that uncovered severe abuse, including evidence described by authorities as “signs of torture.” Police arrested Raccoon resident Mary Hall, 42,
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Woman arrested after daughter arrives at school with bruised eye
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WARFIELD — A Martin County woman was charged with child abuse after her daughter arrived at school with a bruised eye, police said. Chief Deputy Chris Kidd of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office arrested Garnett Scott, 36, of Lovely, at Warfield Elementary School around 2 p.m. Dec. 17. The officer
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Lovely man goes to jail for assaulting young nephew
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LOVELY — A Lovely resident went to jail for the alleged assault of a young boy who stepped up to protect his “papaw.” Martin County Sheriff John Kirk arrested 41-year-old Christopher Lee Maynard April 16 on Little Peter Cave Road in Lovely, where he allegedly struck his 11-year-old nephew during
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Tomahawk man arrested for criminal abuse of girlfriend’s daughter
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LOUISA — A Martin County man was arrested early Friday morning for allegedly hitting his girlfriend’s young daughter. Kentucky State Police Post 14 in Ashland dispatched a trooper to the Three Rivers Medical Center, Louisa, to interview the child about an incident that occurred on Staton Hollow in Tomahawk. The
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Women arrested for child assault and endangerment
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Two Inez women were arrested Monday on charges relating to child assault and endangerment. Amber Ruble, 31, and Amanda Ward, 47, were taken into custody at Quail Hollow Apartments in Inez. Ruble stands accused of endangering the welfare of a minor for leaving her 8- and 9-year-old children unattended
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Baby-biting incident lands two in jail
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT INEZ — Police arrested an employee and a resident of the Serenity House in Inez on child abuse charges after the resident allegedly bit her 20-month-old child at the director’s instructions. Crystal Hazlett, 42, and Brittany Ashcraft, 31, both of Inez, were arrested Aug. 30 at the Mountain Comprehensive Care-operated facility on
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Trust your gut, know the signs to spot, prevent child abuse
BY NADIA RAMLAGANKENTUCKY NEWS CONNECTION Child abuse cases in the state dropped between 2019 and 2020, but Kentucky still ranks fifth among states for incidents of child maltreatment, according to the latest federal data. Dr. Kelsey Gregory, a pediatrician specializing in child-abuse cases in the Division of Forensic Medicine at the University of Kentucky, said
