Whitley County man charged in connection with child sex abuse investigation

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — A Whitley County man is facing charges in connection with an investigation involving the sexual exploitation of children.

According to the Kentucky State Police Department (KSP), the Electronic Crime Branch began an investigation around 2 p.m. on Thursday after receiving a complaint that 24-year-old Tanner Petrey was sharing sexually explicit images of children.

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Law enforcement said electronic devices “believed to have been used to facilitate the crime” were taken to a KSP forensic laboratory for examination.

According to court documents, Petrey allegedly admitted to sending and receiving “numerous files” containing sexually explicit imagery of minors.

Petrey was charged with 20 counts of distributing material portraying a minor over age 12, under age 18, in a sexual performance, which is a Class-D felony charge carrying a punishment of one to five years in prison if sentenced, per KSP.

Petrey may face more charges depending on forensic investigation results, according to court documents.

Petrey was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

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