Kentucky State Police Charges Pulaski County Couple With Child Sexual Exploitation Offenses

SOMERSET, Ky. (September 5, 2024)— On September 4, 2024, at approximately 2:00 p.m., the Kentucky State Police Electronic Crime Branch located and arrested Christopher Sean Ethridge and Amy Sativia Ethridge on charges related to a child sexual abuse material investigation.

The couple was located, interviewed, and arrested as the result of an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigation. The KSP Electronic Crime Branch began the investigation after discovering Mr. Ethridge sharing sexually explicit images of young juvenile online.

The investigation resulted in executing a search warrant at a residence in Somerset on September 4, 2024. Equipment used to facilitate the crime was seized and taken to KSP’s forensic laboratory for examination. The investigation is still ongoing.

Christopher Ethridge is currently charged with one count of Sodomy 1st degree with a victim under the age of 12, which is a Class-A felony punishable by 20-50 years or life in prison. Mr. Ethridge was charged with one count of the use of a minor under the age of 16 in a sexual performance, one count of promoting a minor under the age of 16 in a sexual performance, nine counts of distribution of matter portraying a minor under the age of 12 in a sexual performance, one count of procuring or promoting the use of a minor by an electronic means. These charges are all Class-B felonies punishable by 10-20 years in prison. Christopher Ethridge was also charged with 20 counts of possession of matter portraying a minor under the age of 12 in a sexual performance. Possession of matter portraying a minor under the age of 12 in a sexual performance is a Class-C felony punishable by five to ten years in prison.

Amy Ethridge is currently charged with one count of the use of a minor under the age of 16 in a sexual performance, one count of promoting a minor under the age of 16 in a sexual performance, one count of distribution of matter portraying a minor under the age of 12 in a sexual performance, and one count of procuring or promoting the use of a minor by an electronic means. These charges are all Class-B felonies punishable by 10-20 years in prison. Mrs. Ethridge was also charged with 20 counts of possession of matter portraying a minor under the age of 12 in a sexual performance. Possession of matter portraying a minor under the age of 12 in a sexual performance is a Class-C felony punishable by five to ten years in prison.

Christopher and Amy Ethridge were lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center.

The Kentucky Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is comprised of more than twenty-six local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The mission of the ICAC Task Force, created by the United States Department of Justice and administrated by the Kentucky State Police, is to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in developing a response to cyber enticement and child sexual abuse material investigations. This support encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, prevention and community education. The ICAC program was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the internet, the proliferation of child sexual abuse material, and the heightened online activity of predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims.

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