Magoffin County, Ky – Police say a Magoffin County man is accused of sending sexual messages and nude photos to someone he believed was a 13‑year‑old girl. KSP Post 9 Trooper M. Spencer was called to a home on Upper Mash Fork Road May 6 after a report that 41‑year‑old Joshua Gullett of Salyersville had been communicating online with a profile he thought was a juvenile. Investigators say Gullett admitted the account was his and that he believed he was talking to a 13‑year‑old. He was charged with procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means and taken to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center and is scheduled for arraignment May 18.
Prestonsburg, Ky – Two flood-survivor families are starting over in Prestonsburg’s New Hope Estates, a higher-ground subdivision built for a safer future. Governor Andy Beshear joined local and state leaders Monday to cut the ribbon on two homes, one move-in ready and another nearly complete. New homeowner Kim Jones, whose Martin house was destroyed in the 2022 flood, says moving in makes her feel safer and supported. The neighborhood will eventually include 34 homes. Learn more at housingcantwait.org.
Prestonsburg, Ky – Kentuckians head to the polls Tuesday, May 19, for the primary election, and voters can find polling locations, absentee ballot status, sample ballots and more on the Kentucky Voter Information Portal at GoVoteKY.com. The site lists polling places statewide and lets you search by the county where you’re registered, and you can also pull up a sample ballot to see every race you’ll vote on before you head to the booth. Kentucky has closed primaries, so you can only vote in the primary for the party you’re registered with. If you requested an absentee ballot, you can use the portal to track its status. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time, and anyone in line at 6 p.m. is still allowed to vote.
Paintsville, Ky – A Paintsville man has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after admitting he secretly recorded an underage girl while she showered and changed. Prosecutors say 44-year-old Henry Jonathan Ritscher pleaded guilty in January to producing child pornography, admitting he recorded a 15-year-old girl who was a distant relative of his wife. The crime came to light when the victim found a video of herself on Ritscher’s phone. He must complete sex offender treatment in prison and register as a sex offender for 15 years after his release.