In criminal mediation recently, a Magoffin County man agreed to a plea deal for 27 years in prison on charges related to sexually abusing a minor. On Thursday, March 28, Stuart Horton, 31, from the Left Fork Johnson, in Magoffin County, had a mediation hearing last Thursday for his charges of first-degree sodomy, victim under 12 years old (Class A felony); first-degree rape, victim under 12 years old (Class A felony); and first-degree sexual abuse, victim under 12 years old (Class C felony). According to the original arrest citation from June 2023, Kentucky State Police Post 9 had an open investigation involving Horton and a juvenile.

Through the investigation, Horton was asked to come to KSP Post 9 in Pike County to complete a polygraph session, which he voluntarily attended.

Police reported that once the polygraph session was completed, Horton became very apologetic and confessed to the alleged events that occurred between him and the juvenile. Horton reportedly went on to disclose the events in depth, and that the juvenile was initially around 8 or 9 years of age when the sexual acts occurred, lasting until 2021.