MUNFORDVILLE, Ky. (KT) – Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman and Kyle Williamson, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the 10th Judicial Circuit, announced Friday that their joint action will send a child predator to prison for the next 30 years.
Christopher Hawkins, 25, was sentenced Friday in Hart Circuit Court. He pleaded guilty to Use of a Minor In Sexual Performance (a Class B Felony punishable by 10-20 years in prison), Distribution of Matter Portraying Sexual Performance by a Minor Under 12 (Class B Felony) and three counts of Possession of Matter Portraying a Sexual Performance by a Minor Under 12 (a Class C Felony that carries a 5-10 year prison term, if convicted).
Following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations arrested Hawkins last August at a Hardyville residence. Hawkins later admitted to sexually abusing a 5-year-old and recording video of her performing a sexual act.
“It’s not easy to stare into the darkness of these crimes, and I’m so grateful to Commonwealth’s Attorney Williamson’s Office and the law enforcement professionals who protected Hart County with this sentence,” Coleman said. “Predators who harm children will face the full force of Kentucky law.”
As part of the guilty plea, Hawkins received a 30-year sentence. He must also register as a sex offender and have no contact with the victim.
“We in the 10th Judicial Circuit are very grateful for the hard work of the Attorney General’s Office and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Brooke Talley in bringing a dangerous child predator to justice,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Williamson stated. “Our office will continue to stand in solidarity with General Coleman in the fight against child predators, pedophiles and human traffickers.”
The Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) investigated the case with support from the Hart County Sheriff’s Office and the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Brooke Talley prosecuted the case.
