Content warning: This article contains descriptions of sexual abuse that some readers may find disturbing.
MURRAY – A fourth man appeared in Calloway District Court this week on charges related to the sexual abuse of children under 12, joining three other defendants whose cases moved through the court in a matter of days.
On Tuesday, Jarrett Collins, 44, of Princeton, was arraigned on charges of first-degree sexual abuse, victim under 12, and first-degree sodomy, victim under 12. During a preliminary hearing Friday, the court found probable cause to send the case to a grand jury.
On Wednesday, James Johnson, 32, of Murray, was arraigned on four counts of distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under 12. His preliminary hearing, originally scheduled for Friday, was continued until Tuesday after an investigator with the Kentucky State Police Electronic Crimes Branch was unable to attend.
(Zoom screenshots/The Murray Sentinel)
Also on Wednesday, the court found probable cause after a preliminary hearing in the case of another Murray man, Aidan Santos, 25, who is scheduled to be arraigned in Calloway Circuit Court on Monday, March 30, at 8:30 a.m. on 10 counts of possession and 10 counts of distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under 12.
Then, on Friday, Stephen Foriest, 34, of Murray, was arraigned on charges of sodomy, rape, sexual abuse and distribution of obscene material to a minor. The victim in the case was seven years old at the time of the alleged incidents.
Foriest was arrested Wednesday and charged with three counts of first-degree sodomy, which are Class B felonies, and one count each of first-degree rape, victim under 12, a Class A felony; first-degree sexual abuse, victim under 12, a Class C felony; and distribution of obscene material to minors, first-offense, a Class A misdemeanor.
According to the uniform citation, the victim’s mother reported the matter to the Murray Police Department (MPD) after receiving a letter from her daughter outlining the alleged abuse that occurred around five years ago. She confirmed that she was dating Foriest at the time the alleged events took place and acknowledged that he occasionally took care of her children.
The citation includes graphic descriptions of the alleged abuse, based on interviews conducted with the victim and Foriest.
The child told investigators, according to the citation, that Foriest engaged in sexual acts with her and showed her a video to demonstrate what he wanted her to do. The investigators wrote that Foriest touched her genitals with his mouth and fingers and directed her to perform oral sex on him.
The citation states that Foriest voluntarily came to the police station for an interview, where he was read his Miranda rights and signed a waiver. Investigators wrote that Foriest admitted to “kissing” the child’s genitals and rubbing them with his fingers, saying there “may have been slight penetration of the finger by accident.”
Marshall District Judge Jack Telle presided over all proceedings in Calloway District Court Friday, filling in for Calloway District Judge Randall Hutchens.
During the hearing, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney James Burkeen advised the court that the sodomy charges should be amended to first-degree sodomy, victim under 12, which is a Class A felony.
Telle set bond at $50,000 cash. In addition to standard bond conditions, including no contact with the victim or her family, Foriest is prohibited from having unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 18.
The Department of Public Advocacy was appointed to represent Foriest. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 2 p.m. Telle will preside over those proceedings as well.
Individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
