Beshear: Three Hopkinsville Residents Accept Plea Agreements for Sexual Assault of Minor

Fourth defendant linked to assault to stand trial Monday

FRANKFORT, KY – Attorney General Andy Beshear and his Special Prosecution Division have announced that three Hopkinsville residents have been given a combined sentence of more than 40 years for the sexual assault of a 15-year-old boy at an October 2014 party in Christian County.

Beshear’s prosecutors are handling the case for the state and helped secure the three pleas entered this week before Christian Circuit Judge John Atkins.

The pleas entered include:

Colton Cavanaugh, 19, charged with first-degree sodomy, physically helpless, Class B felony; first-degree wanton endangerment, Class D felony; and tampering with physical evidence, Class D felony. His recommended sentence on all counts to run consecutively is 20 years, and he must serve at least 12 years before he is eligible for parole. Cavanaugh agreed in his plea deal to testify against the co-defendants in this case in any court proceedings. He must register as a sex offender, as well as serve an additional five years of conditional release at the completion of his sentence. As part of his plea, Cavanaugh agreed to offer a public apology to the victim.

Samual Miller, 20, charged with first-degree complicity to wanton endangerment, Class D felony; complicity to tampering with physical evidence, Class D felony; and distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor, Class D felony. His recommended sentence on all counts to run consecutively is 13 years. Miller agreed in his plea deal to testify against the co-defendants in this case in any court proceedings. He must register as a sex offender.

Tyler Perry, 21, charged with first-degree assault, Class B felony. His recommended sentence is 10 years, to serve 85 percent of his sentence. Miller agreed in his plea deal to testify against the co-defendants in this case in any court proceedings.

According to the plea agreements, the three defendants sexually assaulted the minor while he was unconscious at a house party. In doing so, the defendants inflicted serious physical injury to the minor.

Final sentencing for Cavanaugh and Perry is set for Nov. 1. Final sentencing for Miller is set for March 7, 2017.

The fourth defendant, Dayton Jones, 22, who is alleged to be involved in the assault, is scheduled for a jury trial Monday in Christian Circuit Court.

“This horrific assault and the legal proceedings surrounding this case have gripped the Christian County community for nearly two years now,” Beshear (pictured left) said.  “The emotional harm to the victim will be something he will carry with him the rest of his life. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. I do want to thank the members of my special prosecution team for getting and seeking justice for him.”

Beshear’s special prosecutors will present evidence against Jones at Monday’s trial.

The AG’s special prosecution division is responsible for assisting local prosecutors in complex or sensitive cases, as well as, handle cases in which a local prosecutor disqualifies themselves.

One of Beshear’s core missions is to seek justice for victims of sexual assault.

Photos attached L to R: Miller & Perry - No photo available for Cavanaugh.