Nicholasville residents indicted for child pornography

Published 11:36 am Wednesday, September 23, 2020

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Two Jessamine County residents were arrested after being indicted for allegedly possessing explicit images of children.

Cory Johns, 39, of 1401 Little Hickman Road, and Tami Johns, 48, of 908 Wobarto Way, were indicted in August for 11 counts of possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor and two counts each of use of a minor in a sexual performance and promoting a sexual performance by a minor.

State statute defines use of a minor as “employs, consents to, authorizes or induces a minor to engage in a sexual performance.”

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Promoting a sexual performance would include directing or producing or promoting any sexual content that involves a minor, and possession would involve possessing such material.

According to the indictment from the Jessamine County grand jury, the alleged action occurred on Aug. 21. The case was presented directly to the grand jury, and the Johns were not charged previously.

According to the Kentucky State Police Electronic Crimes Branch, the case was investigated by the Kentucky Internet Crimes Against Children task force. Detective Wilmer Gatson said the charges were part of an undercover ICAC investigation.

The victims in the case were only identified as being younger than 16 years old.

According to the Jessamine County Detention Center, Tami Johns is being held on a $25,000 cash bond while Cory Johns was being held on a $50,000 cash bond.

Cory Johns is scheduled to be arraigned in Jessamine Circuit Court Sept. 25, and Tami Johns will have a status hearing Dec. 27 in Jessamine Circuit Court.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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