Attorney General Russell Coleman announced in a statement on March 26 that a Perry County man previously convicted of sexually assaulting multiple children was sentenced to three life sentences with no possibility of parole.
According to the statement, Perry Circuit Judge Alison C. Wells handed down the sentence against Harrison Cress, 58, of Beehive Road, Slemp, on two counts of first-degree sodomy (child under 12 years old), one count of incest (child under 12 years old) and three counts of first-degree sexual abuse (child under 12).
According to the statement, a jury found Cress guilty in October and recommended the three life sentences “because of the heinous nature of the crimes.”
Cress, the statement said, groomed multiple children, building trust so he could exploit and abuse them.
“After years of abuse, one of the children bravely reported the abuse to her grandmother,” the statement said. “The children’s advocacy centers in Ashland and Hazard interviewed the victims, providing information leading to the arrest.”
Five children provided victim statements for the sentencing, the statement said.
One letter read, “What you did to me was not right…I am happy you’re in jail.” A young relative who suffered abuse at Cress’ hands wrote, “I couldn’t understand why someone so close to me hurt me.”
Coleman said in the statement that the sentence sends a message.
“When those who harm our kids are held accountable, it tells every survivor their voice matters and that the justice system can protect them,” he said. “I’m deeply grateful to the Children’s Advocacy Center professionals, law enforcement, prosecutors and advocates who worked with these children to help them find their voice and the courage to put this monster behind bars.”
The statement said the Kentucky State Police investigated the case with support from the Perry County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant attorneys general Barbara Whaley and Tony Skeans prosecuted the case on behalf of the prosecution. McCall Allen with the Attorney General’s Office of Victim’s Advocacy provided services to the victims.
