KY man pleads guilty to sexually abusing dog, distributing child porn
A Salyersville man has pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing child pornography and sexually abusing a dog.
Kent Simpkins, 43, pleaded guilty to seven felony charges Thursday, after an investigation that began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a “cyber tip,” according to a news release from Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office.
Investigators searched his social media and IP address and found “multiple images of minors involved in sexual acts, numerous animal sex videos and a video of Simpkins involved in a sexual act with the family’s dog,” the release stated.
Simpkins was indicted May 16 by a Magoffin County grand jury.
He is scheduled for sentencing March 6. A 10-year sentence is being recommended.
After his release, Simpkins will be required to register with the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry and will be on supervised release for five years.
Simpkins pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under 12, three counts of possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under 12, two counts of possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor over 12 and one count of a sexual crime against an animal.
“A single tip to law enforcement led to a 10-year sentence that will keep this dangerous predator away from our children,” Coleman said in the release. “I am grateful to the investigators and prosecutors who stare into this darkness to protect our families from these serious crimes.”
