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Ashton McKenzie Commonwealths Attorney 21st Judicial Circuit, 44 W Main Street, Mount Sterling, KY (2026)

08/31/2026

On August 27, 2026 Coburn Holbrook( 44) of Olive Hill was sentenced in accordance with his plea agreement to the following:

Trafficking in a Controlled Substance; 2nd or More Offense (fentanyl) - 15 years

Trafficking in a Controlled Substance; 1st Offense - 15 years

and

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - 12 months

To run concurrent for a total of 15 years. Mr. Holbrook must serve 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

Mr. Holbrook was charged after then Deputy Thomas Wilson with the Menifee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on Mr. Holbrook and his Co-Defendant. Then Deputy Troyal Cox assisted with his K-9 to conduct a free air sniff. Deputies located 35.275 grams of fentanyl and 17.168 grams of co***ne.

The Commonwealth Attorney's Office would like to thank the agencies and officers for their continued efforts at combating the drug epidemic within the 21st Judicial Circuit.

08/26/2026

On Monday August 24, 2026, Steven Darrell Damron of Owingsville was sentenced after pleading guilty to the following:

Count 1: So**my; 1st Degree - 30 years

Count 2: So**my; 1st Degree - 20 years

Count 3: In**st under 12 years of age - 30 years

Count 4: In**st less than 18 - 20 years

Counts 5 - 14: Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Minor - 20 years and

Counts 15 - 20: Possession of Matter Portraying a Sexual Performance by a Minor - 10 years

Mr. Damron's charges will run concurrent for a total of 30 years. Mr. Damron must serve 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

Mr Damron was charged after an investigation was conducted by Kentucky State Police Post 8. KSP received a complaint of sexual abuse that took place over several years. Trooper Nathan Shortridge completed an initial investigation and referred the case to Kentucky State Police - E Crimes with Det. Michael Viergutz. Det. Viergutz through his thorough investigation recovered multiple images of Child Sexual Abuse Material that were created by Mr. Damron of his victim.

The offer provided was discussed with the victim prior to being accepted. Please be respectful of the difficult decision she has made. We will continue to support her through her healing process.

The Commonwealth Attorney's office would like to thank the Troopers involved for their diligent work.

08/07/2026

On August 5, 2026, Misty Helton of Bath County was sentenced after pleading guilty to the following:

Trafficking in a Controlled Substance; 1st Degree; 1st Offense (fentanyl) and

Persistent Felony Offender; 1st Degree

Ms. Helton was sentenced to a total of 15 years. She must serve 10 years before she is eligible for parole.

Ms Helton was charged after an investigation conducted by Montgomery County Sheriff's Office - Kentucky. Detective Robert Workman and Detective Dalton Hayes utilized an informant to conduct a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Ms. Helton.

The Commonwealth Attorney's Office would like to thank the Sheriff's Department for their continued efforts to combating the drug epidemic.

07/30/2026

On July 29, 2026 a Menifee County Jury found Carlos Ewell Dobson GUILTY of:

Trafficking in a Controlled Substance; 1st Degree more than or equal to 2 grams of Methamphetamine;

Possession of Controlled Substance; 1st Degree; 1st Offense;

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

and

Persistent Felony Offender; 1st Degree

The jury returned a verdict of 19 years. Mr Dobson will be required to serve 10 years before being eligible for parole.

1st Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Christopher Kelley called Deputy Troyal Cox, then with the Menifee County Sheriff’s Office to provide the jury with testimony regarding Mr Dobson traffic stop. The jury heard evidence from Deputy Cox who deployed his K-9 partner and located 13.292 grams of methamphetamine, $393.00 and several baggies which were consistent with trafficking.

The Commonwealth Attorney's Office would like to thank the Menifee County jury for their attention and hard work. As well as the Menifee County Sheriff's Department for their efforts toward combating the drug epidemic.

07/14/2026

On June 16, 2026, a Menifee County jury found Matthew Small guilty of the following

Trafficking in a Controlled Substance; 1st Degree; 1st Offense - Fentanyl

Trafficking in a Controlled Substance; 1st Degree; more than 2 grams of Methamphetamine

Convicted Felon in Possession of a Handgun and

Persistent Felony Offender; 1st Degree.

The jury provided a verdict of 10 years. Mr. Small must serve 10 years before he is eligible for parole. Deputies then with the Menifee County Sheriff’s Office Dep. Thomas Wilson and Dep. Troyal Cox stopped Mr. Small due to an attempt to locate dispatched out of Mt. Sterling. Officers deployed Dep. Cox's K9 Unit which alerted to narcotics in the vehicle. After a search it was determined that Mr. Small was trafficking in 3.343 grams of Methamphetamine and 5.580 grams of Fentanyl.

The Commonwealth Attorney's Office would like to thank the Menifee County Jurors for their attention and hard work. As well as the Menifee County Sheriff's Department for their continued work toward combating the drug epidemic.

05/18/2026

On September 19, 2025, the lives of Kayla and Kennedi were violently and tragically cut short. They were both loved and cared for deeply by their family and the community they treasured. The Commonwealth Attorney's Office would ask that we continue to remember the lives and beauty that Kayla and Kennedi were. Shifting the focus where it should be with the loss of two innocent individuals while no longer giving attention to the criminal who shortened their time with us.

The decision made regarding a plea and sentence was not made lightly. The extension of his plea offer was given great consideration by our office and the family of Kayla and Kennedi. The murders of these two beautiful, wonderful, and kind individuals is a great loss to our small community. Their absence will have a lasting impact on not only their family, but our community as a whole. It is a tragedy that could have been avoided had the jury in his first murder trial found him guilty as indicted. I grieve with both families that they did not.

On April 28, 2026, Joshua Cottrell plead guilty to two counts of Murder and one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence. He received two sentences of Life in Prison Without Parole and 5 years on Tampering with Physical Evidence.

The Commonwealth Attorney's Office wants to thank the Kentucky State Police - Post 8, Detective Robert Martin and Coroner John Northcutt for their efforts in investigating this tragedy. A special thank you to Kentucky State Police and Post 1 as well as other Detectives who assisted their investigation. Their quick response and efforts located the Defendant after fleeing to Paducah. Without their tireless work justice may not have been so swift. We also want to thank all first responders who assisted in this tragedy.

Finally, we pray that this resolution will allow the family to begin to heal from their loss.

04/27/2026

On Thursday April 16, 2026 William Roland was sentenced on his prior plea agreement to the following:

Trafficking in a Controlled Substance; 1st Degree; 1st Offense - 7 years

Tampering with Physical Evidence - 3 years and

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - 30 days

Mr Roland was arrested and charged with drug trafficking after a stop conducted by Assistant Chief Justin Sutherland of the Owingsville Police Department . An anonymous tip that an individual was selling narcotics behind Town & Country gas station led Asst. Chief Sutherland and Deputy Wes Everman to the location where they located Mr Roland with several ounces of narcotics and cash.

The Commonwealth Attorney's Office would like to thank the agencies for their continued efforts at combating the drug epidemic in Bath County.

04/27/2026

On Friday, April 24, 2026, Lacy Ross of Mt. Sterling was sentenced to the following:

Trafficking in a Controlled Substance; 1st Degree; 1st Offense (carfentanil and fentanyl) - 10 years

Promoting Contraband; 1st Degree - 5 years

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - 30 days

Trafficking in a Controlled Substance; 1st Degree; 1st Offense - 10 years

Tampering with Physical Evidence - 5 years

Manslaughter; 2nd Degree - 10 years

Her charges are to run concurrent for a total of 10 but consecutive to an additional promoting and possession case for a total of 13 years.

Ms Ross was initially charged with Trafficking after a stop conducted by Detective Dalton Hayes with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office - Kentucky that led to Ms Ross being found with 9.359 grams of fentanyl and 13.951 grams of methamphetamine. Upon charging Ms Ross and further investigation by Detective Hayes it was determined that Ms Ross sold the narcotics that led to the death of Hannah Newkirk of Montgomery County as well.

The Commonwealth Attorney's Office would like to thank the officers involved for their continued efforts toward keeping dangerous narcotics out of 21st Judicial Circuit.

04/13/2026

On April 6, 2026 Jordan Bills, 28, of Menifee County was sentenced on the following plea agreement:

Counts 1 - 20: Possession of a Matter Portraying a Sexual Performance by a Minor under 12

He was sentenced to a total of 30 YEARS.

Mr. Bills was indicted after a cyber tip was provided to Kentucky State Police E-Crimes division. Det. Jason Dials conducted a thorough investigation which resulted in the seizure of several electronic devices. Kentucky State Police analysts were able to link Mr. Bills to possession of several images of children under the age of 12.

The Commonwealth Attorney's Office would like to thank Kentucky State Police and Ecrimes for their efforts in bringing those who harm children to justice.

04/13/2026

On April 9, 2026, Eric Kingsbury, of Menifee County was sentenced on his plea to the following:

R**e; 1st Degree

So**my; 1st Degree

And

In**st; 1st Degree

For a total of 20 years. Mr. Kingsbury will have to serve 85% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

Mr. Kingsbury was arrested after an investigation conducted by Tpr. Jason Brown with Kentucky State Police. After the juvenile victim reported the physical and sexual abuse that had taken place over the years a thorough investigation led to the indictment of Mr. Kingsbury. KSP was assisted by DCBS Social Worker Tosha Hays in his investigation.

The victim eloquently stated her position at sentencing and was relieved about the resolution of the case.

The Commonwealth Attorney's office would like to thank the agency for their continued efforts at keeping children within the 21st Circuit safe.

**Please keep in mind all pleas are discussed with victims prior to entry. Their reasons for accepting a plea vary and are difficult decisions for them to make **

Ashton McKenzie Commonwealths Attorney 21st Judicial Circuit

08/31/2026

08/26/2026

08/07/2026

07/30/2026

07/14/2026

05/18/2026

04/27/2026

04/27/2026

04/13/2026

04/13/2026

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