Eastern Kentucky Man Guilty of Crimes Against Children and Family Dog Sentenced to Prison

Attorney General Russell Coleman announced today action from the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Unit resulted in a 10-year prison sentence for an eastern Kentucky man charged with crimes against children and animals.

In a Magoffin County courtroom Thursday, Kent Simpkins, 43, was sentenced for seven felony counts. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of Distribution of Matter Portraying a Sexual Performance by a Minor under 12 (Class C Felony), three counts of Possession of Matter Portraying a Sexual Performance by a Minor under 12 (Class C Felony), two counts of Possession of Matter Portraying a Sexual Performance by a Minor over 12 (Class D Felony), and one count of a Sexual Crime Against an Animal (Class D Felony). 

Following a cyber tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), law enforcement searched Simpkins’ IP address and social media last year. They 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. 

In addition to the 10-year sentence, Simpkins, of Salyersville, will be a lifetime registrant on the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry and receive five years of post-incarceration supervision. 

“This predator was already far down a dangerous path of criminal activity.  We are grateful to the team of detectives and prosecutors whose dedicated efforts will ensure this man is kept far away from children,” said Attorney General Coleman.

The Kentucky State Police Electronic Crimes Branch investigated the case. Assistant Attorney General Lindsey Studebaker prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth.