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Three cases involving sexual abuse move through Calloway District Court in one week

Jessica Paine
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Three cases involving sexual abuse move through Calloway District Court in one week

Content warning: This article contains references to child sexual abuse that some readers may find disturbing.

MURRAY – Three defendants facing felony charges involving the sexual abuse of minors appeared in Calloway District Court this week, placing several cases involving children under 12 before the court within a matter of days.

The court appearances come less than a month after Murray resident Jace Penner was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to 20 counts of possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

James Johnson, 32, of Murray, was arrested Tuesday and charged with four counts of distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under 12, which are Class B felonies, punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison.*

According to the uniform citation, the investigation began after a cyber tip was reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and was conducted by the Kentucky State Police (KSP) Electronic Crimes Branch as part of the Kentucky Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a multi-agency initiative focused on investigating online child exploitation.

A search warrant executed at a Murray residence on March 10 led to the seizure of electronic devices believed to have been used to distribute the material. In a news release issued Thursday, KSP said that the investigation remains ongoing.

Calloway District Judge Randall Hutchens explains the bond conditions to Johnson during his arraignment Tuesday. (Zoom screenshot/The Murray Sentinel)

Johnson was arraigned Wednesday. Calloway District Judge Randall Hutchens set bond at $25,000 cash. In addition to standard bond conditions, Johnson is prohibited from possessing devices capable of accessing the internet.

Before the end of the hearing, Hutchens asked Johnson about his application for representation from the Department of Public Advocacy (DPA), noting that, because his income exceeds the federal poverty line, he does not qualify.  

Johnson advised the court that he does not know what his employment status will be if he is able to post bond because he works for an inventory company, and his job requires him to use a computer. Given the circumstances, Hutchens appointed DPA to represent Johnson.

Johnson’s next court appearance is Friday at 10:30 a.m. for his preliminary hearing.

Shortly after Johnson’s arraignment, a preliminary hearing was held in an unrelated case that also involves CSAM. In that case, another Murray man, 25-year-old Aidan Santos, who was arraigned last week, is charged with 10 counts of possession and 10 counts of distribution of CSAM, victim under 12.

Aidan Santos, right, sits at the defense table with his attorney Chris Hendricks during his preliminary hearing in Calloway District Court Wednesday. (Zoom screenshot/The Murray Sentinel)

Hutchens found probable cause to bind the case over to the grand jury, but Santos waived formal indictment, meaning the case will proceed to Calloway Circuit Court by information. Santos’ circuit court arraignment is scheduled for Monday, March 30, at 8:30 a.m.

But Johnson and Santos are only two of the three defendants appearing in Calloway District Court this week who face felony charges involving sexual abuse of minors.

Jarrett Collins, 44, of Princeton, was also arraigned in Calloway District Court this week. Collins appeared Tuesday via Zoom from the Caldwell County Jail, where he has been held since December 2023 on 20 counts of possession and 10 counts of distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under age 12.

In February 2024, Collins was indicted in Marshall County on one count of first-degree sexual abuse, victim under 12, after a direct submission to the grand jury. That charge is based on alleged incidents that occurred between Christmas 2020 and New Year’s Day 2021.

(Screenshot of Caldwell County Jail inmate list)

The Caldwell County case is set for trial in June, and a trial in Marshall County is scheduled in July.

In Calloway County, Collins is facing charges of first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree sodomy, victim under 12. These charges stem from alleged incidents that took place between May and August 2023.

Court records show a total of four felony cases in Collins’ criminal history, all of which are related to the sexual abuse of children under the age of 12. The earliest case predates the Caldwell County charges by 10 years.

Collins’ 2013 mugshot (Courtesy of WFIE)

In July 2013, Collins was arrested in Tampa, Florida, and charged with one count of first-degree rape and two counts of sodomy, victim under 12, for alleged incidents that occurred in Hopkins County five days before his arrest, WFIE reported at the time.

According to court records, the first-degree rape charge was amended down to second-degree wanton endangerment, and the sodomy charges were dismissed. Collins was sentenced to 12 months in jail. Having already served 100 days in jail since his arrest, the remainder of his sentence was suspended, and he was placed on unsupervised probation for two years.

Like Johnson, Collins is scheduled to appear for his preliminary hearing in Calloway District Court on Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the potential punishment for Class B felonies in Kentucky. We apologize for the error. It has been corrected.

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Hundreds of CSAM images recovered in Murray case; more charges expected

Jessica Paine
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Hundreds of CSAM images recovered in Murray case; more charges expected

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of child sexual abuse that some readers may find disturbing.

MURRAY – A Kentucky State Police detective testified in Calloway District Court Wednesday that investigators recovered hundreds of suspected child sexual abuse images from a Murray man’s Kik account and expect additional charges against the subject, who is already facing 20 felony counts.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney James Burkeen called Lloyd Ray, a detective with the Kentucky State Police (KSP) Electronic Crimes Branch, to testify about his investigation of 25-year-old Aidan Santos.

Ray, who was named Electronic Crimes Branch Detective of the Year in 2024, according to a KSP press release, explained that the social media platform Kik reported an account suspected of possessing and distributing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), a national organization that forwards cyber tips to law enforcement agencies.

The purpose of Wednesday’s hearing was to determine if there was sufficient evidence against Santos to bind the case over to the grand jury for indictment.

According to the testimony, KSP’s investigation was launched on Feb. 17, after NCMEC notified the agency about the cyber tip. Kik reported approximately 10 images of CSAM allegedly found on Santos’ account, one of which was a video showing a prepubescent girl sleeping in a bed with an unidentified male, who was using the child’s hand to masturbate.

“They didn’t know if this was self-produced by the owner of this account because it was not a known image (to) NCMEC,” Ray said. “So, they labeled it as a Priority 2, which means (law enforcement has) got to get on this pretty quick.”

Based on information provided to NCMEC, including IP addresses, username and email address associated with the account, investigators were able to trace it back to Santos.

When KSP’s Intelligence Branch advised that Santos did not appear to have access to children, investigators slowed the pace of the investigation to conduct more surveillance and learn Santos’ habits. On Feb. 26, Ray obtained and executed a search warrant.

Santos was apprehended as he pulled into the driveway of his apartment on Opportunity Drive, where he lives with his girlfriend.

Investigators seized multiple electronic devices, including the cell phone in Santos’ vehicle. Ray testified that the email address and Kik username identified in the cyber tip were active on the phone.

Santos faces 10 counts each of possession and distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under 12 years of age, class C and B felonies, respectively.

All 20 counts stem from the cyber tip reported to NCMEC, with the possession charges related to the images themselves and the distribution charges based on exchanges between the account and other Kik users through private messages.

Kentucky State Police Electronic Crimes Branch Detective Lloyd Ray, left, sits beside Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney James Burkeen while testifying at Santos’ preliminary hearing. (Zoom screenshot/The Murray Sentinel)

“There was multiple images of other females and juveniles that was recovered,” Ray testified. “I executed a search warrant on this specific Kik account, which returned, I believe it was, 488 images. There’s a lot of images in there of a female that’s close to him, where another complaint has been filed; one of our supervisors is working it.”

Investigators recovered numerous AI-generated images. Ray testified that Santos used artificial intelligence tools to alter photos of what he described as “females,” placing them in lingerie or other revealing clothing.

“So, we’re expecting additional charges,” he added.

Burkeen had no more questions. Before moving on, Hutchens asked the detective if he anticipated federal charges being brought against Santos.

“Possibly, yes,” Ray replied. “I’ve been speaking with the U.S. attorney.”

Murray-based attorney Chris Hendricks, who represents Santos in the case, began his cross-examination with questions about the devices seized and details about how and from where the evidence mentioned in the testimony was obtained.

According to Ray, when officers executed a search warrant, they recovered around six or seven devices, including three cell phones, two Apple MacBooks and a couple of USB drives.

When asked to clarify the source of the 488 images referenced earlier in his testimony, Ray said that he received those directly from Kik in response to a search warrant.

“I got his Kik account back from the company; that had 488 images in it,” Ray explained, adding, “It also has the messages showing where he’s speaking with other Kik users, sharing images back and forth with them and talking about age ranges that he likes in children.”

Hendricks further inquired about what evidence was found specifically on the cell phone recovered from Santos’ vehicle. Ray reiterated that investigators found the reported email address and username on the phone in addition to images.

“We don’t have an exact number yet – as I said, it’s preliminary; he’s still going through it,” Ray said. “He’s saying he has already seen child sexual abuse material ranging from infant age all the way up into the teens.”

Before ruling, Calloway District Judge Randall Hutchens asked if the other resident of the home, Santos’ girlfriend, is charged in connection to the case. Upon confirmation that she is not, Hutchens issued a finding of probable cause.

Hutchens also modified Santos’ bond, originally set at $10,000 cash. At last week’s arraignment, Hutchens commented that the bond should probably be higher but did not change it at the time.

Calloway District Judge Randall Hutchens reviews Santos’ bond conditions. (Zoom screenshot/The Murray Sentinel)

“I have a concern,” the judge said Wednesday. “I set bond based on the limited information that’s in the citation. The testimony today gives significantly more information than I was aware of, and the scope of the issue is more significant than I was aware of; so, I’m inclined to modify the bond.”

After asking Burkeen for his input on a more appropriate amount, Hutchens increased Santos’ bond to $25,000 cash.

Burkeen requested an additional bond condition – that Santos be prohibited from contacting or communicating with his girlfriend or any member of her family. Hutchens granted the request.

Before the hearing ended, Hendricks, on Santos’ behalf, waived presentation of the case to the grand jury, allowing it to proceed to circuit court by information, without waiting for a formal indictment.

Santos is scheduled for arraignment in Calloway Circuit Court on Monday, March 30, at 8:30 a.m.

Individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Murray Human Rights Commission

Jessica Paine
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Murray Human Rights Commission

The Murray Human Rights Commission will meet at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Murray Park Committee Regular Meeting – CANCELED

Jessica Paine
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The Murray Park Committee regular March meeting was canceled.

Community Invited to Journey Bags’ “Be the Light” Awareness Walk at Regional Cancer Center

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Community Invited to Journey Bags’ “Be the Light” Awareness Walk at Regional Cancer Center

MURRAY – Journey Bags, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting cancer patients, will host its 3rd Annual BE THE LIGHT Awareness Walk on Friday, March 27, at the Murray-Calloway County Hospital Regional Cancer Center. Festivities will begin at 6 p.m.

The family-friendly evening will include live music, food trucks, inflatables for children, luminaries, and a community awareness walk designed to bring people together in support of local cancer patients and their families.

The evening walk will conclude with a moving luminary ceremony and a special testimony from Nate Boss, father of Lucy Boss, a local childhood cancer warrior. The event will also celebrate the completion of Lucy’s cancer treatments, which conclude that same week.

Journey Bags provides care packages filled with comfort and support items to cancer patients on their first day of treatment at the Murray-Calloway County Hospital Regional Cancer Center.

Community members are invited to attend the event to show support, raise awareness, and celebrate hope alongside local families affected by cancer.

Journey Bags welcomes media coverage of this special evening to help spread awareness and highlight the impact of community support for cancer patients.

For more information about Journey Bags or the BE THE LIGHT Awareness Walk, visit journeybags.org.

Carter case moves to circuit court as new details emerge about HOPE Calloway finances

Jessica Paine
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Carter case moves to circuit court as new details emerge about HOPE Calloway finances

MURRAY – Three weeks before he was arrested on theft charges, former HOPE Calloway executive director Nathan Carter spoke optimistically about the nonprofit’s future during a local radio interview, discussing his decision to step down and his belief that his successor would bring greater financial stability to the organization.

“There’s a season and a time for everything,” Carter said during a Jan. 13 appearance on Mornings in Murray on WNBS. With Amber Sugg taking the reins as executive director, Carter said HOPE Calloway was entering “a season of phenomenal growth.”

But investigative documents filed in Calloway District Court show that, behind the scenes, a review of the nonprofit’s finances was already underway – one that would soon lead to a criminal investigation.

Carter

Carter, 40, of Kirksey, was arrested Feb. 4 and charged with 19 counts of theft by deception ($1,000–$10,000) and one count of theft by unlawful taking ($10,000–$1,000,000). Two days later, he posted the $100,000 cash bond set by Calloway District Judge Randall Hutchens and was released.

In Calloway District Court Wednesday, he waived his right to a preliminary hearing and grand jury proceedings, allowing the case to proceed directly to Calloway Circuit Court by information.

Carter is scheduled to make his first appearance before Calloway Circuit Judge Andrea Moore on Monday, April 20, at 8:30 a.m. for arraignment.

The charges stem from a financial review conducted during a leadership transition at HOPE Calloway, a local nonprofit that provides services for Calloway County’s homeless population.

Financial Review Begins

Concerns surfaced among board members late last year, after Carter told the board in November of his plans to resign as executive director, according to an affidavit filed with the criminal complaint. The next month, he informed the board that the organization was running out of money, and they would need to organize another fundraiser.

Carter made this post on Facebook page around the time informed HOPE Calloway’s Board of Directors of his decision to resign. (Source: Facebook)

Board President Jeremy McKeel told investigators that fundraising had always been necessary for the organization, but Carter’s comments raised a red flag.

As the board began preparing for a leadership transition, members asked Jennifer Riley, a former HOPE Calloway board president, to help review the nonprofit’s finances and assist with the transition to a new executive director.

During that review, Riley raised a question that would ultimately lead to the investigation: How was this organization running out of money?

Inside HOPE Calloway’s Finances

The most recent publicly available IRS filings show HOPE Calloway, which operates under the umbrella organization The Gentry House, Inc., reported about $797,000 in revenue and $167,000 in expenses in 2020. McKeel clarified the revenue total includes a donation of land valued at approximately $600,000,* which is evident in the filings by the increase in total assets to roughly $785,000 in 2020 from $154,000 the previous year.

In 2021, filings show a net loss, with expenses ($217,000) exceeding revenue ($209,000) by more than $8,000, but assets held around $777,000.

The nonprofit relies heavily on community fundraising events, such as the annual Box Dwellers fundraiser, formerly called A Night on the Town. The event brought in around $47,000 in 2023 and $43,800 in 2024, according to HOPE Calloway’s social media, and raised $32,500 in 2025.

Over the past three years, HOPE Calloway has held the Vision of Hope Banquet in conjunction with the Weaver Challenge, a fundraising competition among local nonprofits organized by the Murray Calloway County Community Foundation. The organization reported fundraising totals exceeding $5,500 in 2023, $9,600 in 2024 and $13,000 in 2025 through the challenge.

Signs citing statistics about homelessness in Calloway County, such as the one seen above, dotted the lawn in front of University Church of Christ during the 2025 Box Dweller fundraiser. (JESSICA PAINE/The Murray Sentinel)

Payroll Discrepancies

With permission from the board, Riley enlisted her finance-savvy husband, Roy, to help examine the organization’s bank statements and other financial records. Roy Riley told investigators he gathered several years of bank statements and organized the transactions to determine where the nonprofit’s money was going. The primary concern soon became payroll.

As executive director, Carter was responsible for processing payroll. HOPE Calloway employees were paid through direct deposit biweekly, translating to 26 pay periods each year, but Roy Riley reported to investigators that Carter actually received 36 paychecks in 2024 and 35 in 2025.

According to the affidavit, Carter’s regular payroll deposits totaled:

• $36,898 in 2023

• $37,524 in 2024

• $33,299 in 2025

However, investigators allege additional paper checks written to Carter – which did not require two signatures – increased his total compensation by $38,210 over the three-year period.

Salary Variances

The Sentinel reached out to McKeel regarding the drop in Carter’s salary from 2024 to 2025. He said that, in the years he has been on the board, there were two occasions when Carter’s salary did not increase year to year, and both were at Carter’s request.

The first time, by McKeel’s account, Carter asked to forego a raise in exchange for greater flexibility in his schedule so that he could focus on his leadership coaching business. The second time, he asked the board to lower his salary.

McKeel said he opposed the reduction, but Carter assured board members that he could supplement his income through his leadership business.

“And the HOPE budget wasn’t doing great,” he added.

McKeel declined to provide additional comment.

A Meeting with Carter

According to the affidavit, McKeel and Roy Riley met with Carter on Jan. 23 to discuss the discrepancies.

Investigators wrote that, during the meeting, Carter acknowledged writing additional checks to himself, describing them as “payroll advances” he had intended to repay.

The affidavit also states Carter admitted using HOPE Calloway funds to make payments on his personal credit card. Records reviewed during the investigation showed $6,638 in payments from nonprofit funds toward the credit card, according to the affidavit.

Conference Expenses

Investigators also identified charges related to a Maxwell Leadership conference Carter attended in connection with his leadership coaching business.

According to the affidavit, those charges totaled $7,478. The expenses included the initial $5,000 conference registration, additional conference-related charges and other purchases, including a haircut.

Carter, left, poses with Linda Avery next to signage for the High Road Leadership Breakfast in September 2024. The Maxwell Leadership event received support from both city and county government, with Mayor Bob Rogers and County Judge-Executive Kenny Imes among those who spoke. Avery, who had been named Citizen of the Year by the Murray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce two months earlier, served as the keynote speaker. (JESSICA PAINE/The Murray Sentinel)

McKeel told investigators Carter had asked the board for permission to attend the conference but said the board had not approved using nonprofit funds to pay for the expenses.

In total, investigators allege Carter took $52,227 from HOPE Calloway through payroll discrepancies, credit card payments and conference expenses.

Carter’s Public Comments

During his January radio interview, Carter praised Sugg, HOPE Calloway’s new executive director, and told listeners that he could see a higher plan in play.

(Source: Facebook/Mornings in Murray)

“As I have gotten to begin working alongside Amber over the last week or so,” he explained, “there’s been just a lot of confirmation for me to go, ‘Okay, God, I kind of see what you’re doing here. This is the season HOPE Calloway needed.’

“HOPE Calloway has a wonderful team and partnerships that, I think, are going to last for a very long time and just continue to grow and to strengthen. So, the season that HOPE Calloway is in, moving forward, is one of phenomenal growth, which I think we’ve been building for a long time.”

Carter also said that Sugg will strengthen HOPE Calloway’s financial future.

“She has such a great track record and insight into financial stability and long-term planning and financial forecasting and stuff that honestly is not my strength,” Carter acknowledged. “You know, I want to go in, and I want to help build teams, and I want to build people and programming, and we’ve done that for the last seven years. So, now, for her to be able to come in and take it to the next level, I think is going to be great.”

Individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated with new information clarifying HOPE Calloway’s revenue sources in 2020.

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Former Murray State provost Tim Todd tapped as interim dean at UT Martin

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Former Murray State provost Tim Todd tapped as interim dean at UT Martin

Martin, Tenn. – Dr. Timothy S. Todd has been named interim dean of the University of Tennessee at Martin College of Business and Global Affairs. The longtime Murray State University academic leader and faculty member is expected to begin his new position July 1.

Todd will lead UT Martin’s AACSB-accredited business programs, including accounting, economics, finance, marketing, management and information systems. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide, held by 6% of business programs globally.

Looking ahead, UT Martin has secured approval and funding to construct a new state-of-the-art Business Administration Building, with completion expected in 2030.

“Dr. Todd’s proven ability to build strong community and industry partnerships, maintain rigorous accreditation standards, and develop innovative academic programming makes him well suited to lead the college during this period,” said Dr. Yancy Freeman Sr., UT Martin chancellor, in an email to the university community. “His collaborative spirit and genuine enthusiasm for this work have been evident throughout our conversations.

“He is eager to support the college’s faculty, staff and students and to build on the strong foundation already in place.”

Todd served as dean of the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business at Murray State University for more than 12 years, overseeing six academic departments, a $10 million budget, and approximately 100 faculty and staff. During his tenure, the college maintained AACSB accreditation through three successful reviews and achieved ACEJMC accreditation for its journalism and mass communications programs.

He led significant fundraising efforts averaging more than $835,000 per year, guided the naming of the college, and oversaw a $120,000 renovation of the State Farm Financial Services Resource Center. He and his team also created new programs, including an accelerated MBA degree, a logistics and supply chain management program, an executive organizational communication master’s program, and an international program at Shandong Business and Technical University in China.

Beyond his dean-level experience, Todd served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Murray State, overseeing all six academic colleges and schools along with the Center for Adult and Regional Education. His leadership contributed to Murray State’s successful SACS-COC reaffirmation, with no recommendations, and to a $60 million legislative appropriation for a new facility.

Todd earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Western Kentucky University and a Doctor of Education degree from North Carolina State University.    

UT Martin is a primary regional campus in the University of Tennessee System offering 23 undergraduate degree programs that include 142 specialized concentrations and eight graduate degrees featuring 30 specialized concentrations.

On the fly: Murray State biology professor discovers new species

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On the fly: Murray State biology professor discovers new species

MURRAY – Dr. Oliver Beckers, Murray State University principal investigator and associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, has made quite the discovery: a new species of fly.

The species’ full name is Neomintho beckersi.

It all started when Beckers was collecting katydids in northern Florida for a research project funded by the National Science Foundation in 2021.

“After I brought the katydids to Murray, I noticed that a couple of larvae emerged from the katydids,” Beckers said. “I was aware that these katydids are used as hosts by the eavesdropping parasitoid fly Ormia lineifrons, that we have here in Kentucky and kills many of the calling katydid males that try to attract females for mating (I do research on those). Thus, I assumed it would be one of those flies and reared them to adulthood in my lab.” 

Dr. Oliver Beckers, Murray State University principal investigator and associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, has made quite the discovery: a new species of fly, Neomintho beckersi. (Photo provided)

However, when the fly emerged as an adult from its pupal stage, an insect’s stage of development between larva and adult, it was pretty clear that this was not one of the Ormia lineifrons flies. Instead of a yellowish white body, this fly was black and more slender.

Beckers contacted a specialist on this group of flies, Dr. James E. O’Hara of the University of Guelph in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and he was not sure at first what to do with it either. He did some research in museums looking through collections and told Beckers that this was a new species and that he was allowed to name it. O’Hara did some further research and has now officially described the species.

The fly parasitized a katydid host, Neoconocephalus triops. Not much is known about how this fly finds its hosts since it has no ears like other parasitoid flies that use the mating songs to find the calling hosts. Also, they are day active when the katydids are not calling and typically hide in the vegetation from visual predators. So, how this fly finds its hosts is a mystery, Beckers said. However, phylogenetically (relationship) wise, this fly belongs to a group of parasitic flies that uses katydids and crickets as hosts.

“My finding that this fly actually parasitized a katydid is also the first direct evidence that supports this taxonomic grouping related to the other parasitic fly groups,” said Beckers. “Flies of this particular group (Euthelairini) are established in the Neotropics, which adds a little more surprise to this discovery in northern Florida.”

Assuming that the parasitism of the host is similar to that of other closely related flies that use crickets as hosts, the fly’s larvae are placed by the female fly on the katydid host. They then bury into the body of the host and develop inside while feeding on non-vital organs of the host. Once the development inside the host is completed (7-10 days), the larva breaks through the body wall of the host, which kills the host. Because they kill their host, they are actually parasitoids, not parasites. Within the same day of emergence from the host, the larvae pupate and develop into adult flies that emerge from the pupa. As evidence, Beckers said he found the pupa of this fly in the cage with his katydids.

“Dr. Beckers’ discovery adds to his work on the relationships between katydids and parasitoid flies,” said Dr. Sterling Wright, professor and chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. “The fact that the new fly species cannot hear will undoubtedly keep Dr. Beckers very busy while he studies the dynamics of this interesting relationship.”

“This is a very exciting discovery by Dr. Beckers and will add to the many research breakthroughs that have occurred in our Department of Biological Sciences,” said Dr. Maeve McCarthy, interim dean of the Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering & Technology.

Read more about Neomintho beckersi at bit.ly/4sfHgx2.

This isn’t the first time Beckers and his family have discovered a new species of insect. In 2016, his wife, Dr. Laura Sullivan-Beckers and his daughter, Sylvie, who was just 2 years old at the time, discovered a new species of treehopper while tending to their garden. The mother and daughter were starting a fresh flower bed.

“I let Sylvie water the bed, which she promptly flooded,” said Sullivan-Beckers, associate professor of biology at Murray State. “All these freshly-killed treehoppers came floating to the surface. I worked with treehoppers as a Ph.D. student, and I knew they didn’t belong in the soil; they’re plant-feeding insects.”

Sullivan-Beckers observed that the treehoppers were deposited by wasps, which had been stunning them before carrying them into their underground nests to feed their young. But she also noticed a treehopper species that she didn’t recognize. Sullivan-Beckers fully excavated her garden, and, curious to know whether the unusual treehopper truly was a new species, she reached out to her Ph.D. advisor, Dr. Rex Cocroft at the University of Missouri, who in turn put her in touch with Dr. Stuart McKamey of the United States Department of Agriculture. 

Beckers’ wife, Dr. Laura Sullivan-Beckers, who is also an associate professor of biology at Murray State, made a discovery of a new species of treehopper with their daughter, Sylvie, in 2016, which they named Hebetica sylviae. (Photo provided)

Sullivan-Beckers and McKamey found that it was, in fact, a new species of treehopper, the first of its genus to be found in North America. The genus is very small—this was only the fifth species of the genus to be described, and all of the others are in Central America. The pair wrote a publication designating the new species, which was released in August 2019.

Sullivan-Beckers decided to honor her daughter’s discovery by requesting the species officially be designated Hebetica sylviae.

“As soon as it was confirmed as a new species, I knew I wanted to name it after Sylvie,” said Sullivan-Beckers. “She was at the heart of the discovery, and it’s not every day a mother gets the chance to name a species after her child.”

She added, “I still can’t believe that these undiscovered treehoppers were essentially in my own backyard. What’s even crazier is that I never would have found them had it not been for the wasps delivering them to my flower bed and my daughter overwatering it. It’s true that science involves luck and serendipity. I was at the right place at the right time with the perfect field assistant.”

Beckers said he has challenged his wife to find the next new species since he has now tied the record between the two.

Murray man arraigned on 20 child sexual abuse material charges

Jessica Paine
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Murray man arraigned on 20 child sexual abuse material charges

MURRAY – Two weeks after a Murray man was sentenced to prison on child sexual abuse material (CSAM) charges, another Murray resident appeared in Calloway District Court Tuesday to face 20 felony counts alleging he possessed and distributed such material.

Aiden Santos, 25, was arrested Thursday and charged with 10 counts of possession and 10 counts of distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under age 12 following an undercover investigation by the Kentucky State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, according to a KSP press release.

The possession charges are Class C felonies punishable by five to 10 years in prison. The distribution charges are Class B felonies punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison.

The investigation began after an unidentified social media company reported an account to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children that was allegedly in possession of and distributing CSAM, according to the uniform citation. Investigators identified Santos as the account holder.

On Feb. 26, KSP executed a search warrant at Santos’ home on Opportunity Drive, just south of Poor Farm Road. Investigators seized multiple electronic devices from the residence.  

A map shows the location of the Opportunity Drive residence where Kentucky State Police executed a search warrant Feb. 26 as part of a child sexual abuse material investigation. The home is located about 0.9 miles from a nearby elementary school. (Source: Google Maps)

Santos appeared Tuesday via Zoom from the Calloway County Detention Center for his arraignment in Calloway District Court.

Calloway District Judge Randall Hutchens set bond in the case at $10,000 cash. During the hearing, both the judge and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney James Burkeen commented that the bond amount should be higher, but Hutchens did not adjust the bond.

In addition to standard bond conditions, including abstaining from drugs and alcohol, avoiding new arrests and attending scheduled court appearances, Santos is prohibited from accessing the internet or possessing a device capable of doing so.  

Calloway District Judge Randall Hutchens briefly discusses the bond amount with the prosecution during Santos’ arraignment. (Zoom screenshot/The Murray Sentinel)

“There are a lot of things that access the internet now – phones, all kinds of stuff – you’re not allowed to (have those). Do you understand?” Hutchens asked Santos, who confirmed that he understood.

Hutchens appointed a public defender to represent Santos but noted he might not qualify if he were out of jail and working. Because of that, the judge said a representation fee could be imposed if Santos posts bond and is able to pay. Santos indicated that was unlikely.

The arraignment comes two weeks after Calloway Circuit Judge Andrea Moore sentenced another Murray man, Jace Penner, to three years in prison after he pleaded guilty to 20 counts of possessing CSAM involving minor over 12 years of age.

Santos is scheduled to return to court Wednesday, March 11, at 9 a.m. for a preliminary hearing, where the judge will determine whether there is probable cause to send the case to a grand jury.

Individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story included an imprecise reference to the timing of a previous case in the lede. That wording has been removed.

State Tornado Drill scheduled for Wednesday

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State Tornado Drill scheduled for Wednesday

MURRAY – The Calloway County Office of Emergency Management plans to test the tornado warning sirens in Murray, Hazel and on the Murray State University campus on Wednesday, March 4, at about 9:07 a.m.

This test will coincide with the statewide tornado drill scheduled for the same date and time. This will be a great opportunity to practice your tornado safety plan, whether you are at home, school, or work. If there is a threat of severe weather at the scheduled time, the drill will be postponed to a fair-weather day.

(Graphic provided)

The sirens are sounded whenever the National Weather Service issues a Tornado Warning that includes the cities of Murray or Hazel. These tests will allow officials to more accurately determine the proper functioning of each siren, which is difficult to do under actual threat conditions. The sirens are tested once each quarter, in accordance with National Weather Service guidelines and the County Emergency Plan.

It is wise to always be alert and prepared. If residents have not yet registered for the County’s Hyper Reach alerting system, this would be a good opportunity to do so by going to here. Find more information on the statewide tornado drill here.

(Graphic provided)
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