The Caldwell County Grand Jury returned several indictments from its June session, including on charges of sexual abuse of a minor and theft.
A true bill was issued on Charles Hanks of Princeton on a single count of first-degree sexual abuse, victim under 12 years of age, that allegedly occurred between May 1, 2024, and February of this year.
Caldwell County Sheriff Don Weedman reports that deputies executed the indictment warrant on Hanks at a residence in the Crider community on Saturday. He says the indictment stems from an investigation that Deputy Mac Englebright has been conducting since February, where the victim, a juvenile girl, reported that she had been sexually abused. He was lodged in the Caldwell County Jail.
Traci Kemp of Princeton has been indicted on five counts related to altering, forging, or passing counterfeit lottery tickets. The grand jury also dismissed sixty additional counts on the same charge, returning a no true bill for those offenses.
Kemp was arrested in February after an investigation by the Princeton Police Department. Police said the investigation began when officers responded to a report of multiple lottery ticket thefts at the BP Station on US 62 on January 29, where Kemp was employed. Police said the store manager informed officers that the lottery rolls had some tickets missing, and some were taken from the ends of the lottery rolls.
Police said the investigation also revealed that matching tickets were cashed out at two locations in Princeton and two locations in Madisonville, where Kemp was identified through video footage.
Detectives from the Kentucky Lottery Commission assisted the Princeton Police officers with the investigation.
Mitchell Peek of Bowling Green was indicted on multiple charges, including first-degree fleeing or evading police, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, and receiving stolen property over $1,000 less than $10,000. The charges are in connection with an incident on or about April 9 that was investigated by Kentucky State Police.
The grand jury also returned a no true bill on Peek and dismissed a charge of reckless driving.
WPKY’s News Edge will provide more of the grand jury indictments in the coming days.
