What's in the public record for Somerset and Pulaski County. Agendas say what a body will consider; minutes say what it did. We do not upgrade one to the other.
Crime
Arrests, charges and court actions from official releases: Kentucky State Police Post 11, the Sheriff's Office, Somerset Police and the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District. A charge is an accusation, not a conviction.
Official notice
U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Kentucky · October 21, 2026
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Ashley Begley, 31, of Scuddy was sentenced Wednesday to 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier. The sentence was for using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. According to her plea agreement, the conduct occurred on September 24, 2025, at her Perry County residence, where officers were trying to arrest a man on a state drug warrant and fired upon as they drove away. The release says the DEA and Pulaski County Sheriff's Office conducted the investigation.
From the record: "A Scuddy, Ky., woman, Ashley Begley, 31, was sentenced on Wednesday to 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence."
Official notice
U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Kentucky · October 21, 2026
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky, BJ Thomason, 38, of Corbin, was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for attempting to induce a minor to produce sexually explicit images. The release says Thomason used the TextNow messaging service in June 2022 to contact the minor and requested sexually explicit pictures after sending multiple explicit pictures of himself. The FBI conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship prosecuted the case.
From the record: "A Corbin, Ky., man, BJ Thomason, 38, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for the attempted production of child pornography."
Official notice
U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Kentucky · October 20, 2026
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Luis Ruiz-Mejia, 48, of Statesville, North Carolina, was sentenced on October 19, 2026, to 156 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. The release says the conspiracy ran from about September 30, 2024, to about April 2, 2025, in Harlan County and elsewhere, and that he supplied cocaine to a co-defendant who distributed it in the Harlan County area. According to the release, the DEA conducted the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship prosecuted the case.
From the record: "On Monday, October 19th, 2026, a Statesville, NC, man, Luis Ruiz-Mejia, 48, was sentenced to 156 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine."
Official notice
Kentucky State Police · October 15, 2026
The Kentucky State Police is investigating the death of an inmate from the Wayne County Detention Center, according to the KSP. The incident occurred on October 13, 2026, at around 7:30 a.m. EST, when KSP Post 11 received a call from the detention center. The investigation is ongoing, according to the KSP.
From the record: "The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 11 London is investigating the death of an inmate from the Wayne County Detention Center."
Official notice
Kentucky State Police · October 5, 2026
***UPDATE*** WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (October 5, 2026) – The Kentucky State Police Post 11 London have located Charles Blake Randle. At around 9 pm EST, Troopers located Mr. Randle and have taken him into custody. He is charged with Escape 1st Degree, Assault 1st Degree- Police Officer, and Attempted Murder.
Official notice
Kentucky State Police · October 6, 2026
WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (October 6, 2026) – The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 11 London is investigating the escape of an inmate and the assault on deputy jailers that took place in the process of that escape.
Official notice
U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Kentucky · October 13, 2026
Tiffany Helton, 43, was sentenced to 90 months in prison for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Pulaski County Sheriff's Office, and found that Helton had distributed methamphetamine on multiple occasions between December 12, 2025, and January 12, 2026, in Pulaski County. Assistant U.S. Attorney Pearce Nesbitt prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
From the record: "A Somerset, Ky., woman, Tiffany Helton, 43, was sentenced on Wednesday to 90 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine."
Also reported by Commonwealth Journal
How this works. Items come from public documents (agendas, minutes, state road data, official releases). Software screens each item against our rules and publishes those that pass; a person reviews what runs afterward and can pull any item. Agendas describe what will be considered, not what passed. We add no names beyond what an official release or the outlet published. Corrections: message the
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