SALYERSVILLE, Ky. (February 14, 2024) — The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Electronic Crime Branch interviewed and arrested Kent Simpkins, 42, on charges related to a child sexual abuse material investigation.
Simpkins was located, interviewed, and arrested as the result of an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigation. The KSP Electronic Crime Branch began the investigation after discovering the suspect uploading sexually explicit images of juveniles to an online social media account.
The investigation resulted in the execution of a search warrant for Simpkins and for his residence in Salyersville on February 13, 2024. Equipment used to facilitate the crime was seized and taken to KSP’s forensic laboratory for examination. The investigation is still ongoing.
Simpkins is currently charged with three counts of possessing matter portraying a minor under the age of 12 in a sexual performance and one count of distribution of matter portraying a minor under the age of 12 in a sexual performance. These charges are Class-C felonies punishable by five to ten years in prison. Simpkins was also charged with two counts of possessing matter portraying a minor over the age of 12 but under the age of 18 in a sexual performance and one count of sexual crimes against an animal. These charges are Class-D felonies punishable by one to five years in prison. Simpkins was lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.
The Kentucky Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is comprised of more than twenty-six local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The mission of the ICAC Task Force, created by the United States Department of Justice and administrated by the Kentucky State Police, is to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in developing a response to cyber enticement and child sexual abuse material investigations. This support encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, prevention and community education. The ICAC program was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the internet, the proliferation of child sexual abuse material, and the heightened online activity of predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims.
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