LEXINGTON, Ky. – A former Bath County Deputy Sheriff, Joshua Preece, 40, of Morehead, Kentucky, has confessed to a sickening betrayal of public trust and a horrific crime against a child. Preece pleaded guilty Tuesday to enticing a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of creating child pornography, according to federal prosecutors.
The details, laid bare in his plea agreement, paint a disturbing picture. On November 5, 2018, Preece responded to a call concerning a minor allegedly “acting out” at her home. Instead of providing help, he transported the victim to a remote location within Bath County. There, he sexually assaulted the child and subsequently solicited explicit photos via Snapchat, exploiting the victim further.
Law enforcement officials, upon seizing Preece’s phone, discovered a trove of sexually explicit images, damning evidence of his depravity. The indictment came in April 2021, but the guilty plea marks a significant step toward accountability. Carlton S. Shier, IV, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, alongside Robert Holman, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, and Colonel Phillip Burnett, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the plea.
The investigation, a collaborative effort between the U.S. Secret Service and the Kentucky State Police, underscores the reach of federal agencies into local crimes with interstate implications. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Marye is prosecuting the case, seeking a substantial penalty for Preece’s actions. This wasn’t a lapse in judgment; it was a calculated and predatory act committed by a man sworn to protect and serve.
Preece now faces a grim reckoning. He is scheduled for sentencing on February 1, 2022. The potential sentence is severe: a minimum of 15 years, and up to 30 years, behind bars. He also risks a fine of up to $250,000 and a period of supervised release ranging from five years to a lifetime. However, the final decision rests with the court, taking into account federal sentencing guidelines and statutes.
This case is being prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the escalating epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project pools federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute predators, while simultaneously working to rescue victims. Information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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