LEXINGTON, Ky. (WMDJ) — A Huntington, West Virginia man has pleaded guilty to a federal drug charge after authorities said he was caught transporting fentanyl into Pike County.

According to federal court records, 30-year-old Donte Hendricks pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Lexington to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.

The charge stems from a traffic stop conducted on Ratliff’s Creek Road in Pike County on Feb. 26, 2025.

Authorities said Pikeville Police received information that Hendricks would be bringing a large quantity of fentanyl into the area. Police were given a description of both Hendricks and the vehicle he was driving before locating and stopping the vehicle.

During the investigation, the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office assisted by bringing a K-9 unit to the scene. Authorities reported seizing 103.6 grams of fentanyl and $917 in cash during the stop.

Court records show Hendricks previously asked the court to suppress the evidence collected during the traffic stop, arguing police lacked reasonable suspicion to stop him or prolong the investigation while waiting for the K-9 unit.

A judge denied that request in December. However, Hendricks’ plea agreement allows him to appeal that ruling. If an appeals court later suppresses the evidence, he would be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea.

Hendricks is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 6 in Lexington and faces between five and 40 years in federal prison.

PAINTSVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) — A Johnson County man was arrested shortly after being released from the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center after authorities said he set fires inside the jail’s lobby bathrooms.

According to court documents, 21-year-old Dillon Smothers, who has addresses listed in both Boons Camp and Inez, was first arrested on May 7 on a charge of public intoxication.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office responded after a Staffordsville resident reported a suspicious person on her porch who may have needed assistance.

Court documents state Smothers told authorities he had walked from a rehab facility along U.S. 460. Deputies reported observing signs of intoxication.

Jail records show Smothers was lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center at 6:49 p.m. and released at 4:07 a.m. Friday.

According to a second arrest citation, the Paintsville Police Department was called back to the jail around 6:45 a.m. after jail staff reported fires had been set in two lobby bathrooms.

The citation said smoke filled the lobby area and damage was reported to a sink in the women’s bathroom.

Authorities later located Smothers at a nearby gas station, where he was allegedly holding a lighter. Court documents state Smothers admitted to starting a fire inside the jail because he was cold.

Smothers was booked back into the detention center at 7:28 a.m. on a charge of second-degree criminal mischief.

The citation said smoke filled the lobby area and damage was reported to a sink in the women’s bathroom.

Meade wrote that he later located Smothers at a nearby gas station, where he was allegedly holding a lighter. The citation states Smothers admitted to starting a fire inside the jail because he was cold.

Smothers was booked back into the detention center at 7:28 a.m. on a charge of second-degree criminal mischief.

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) — A Floyd County man is facing felony wanton endangerment and other charges after police said he left a woman and her five month old child along Route 114 following a domestic incident.

According to Prestonsburg Police, a woman came to Prestonsburg City Hall on Sunday asking to speak with officers. She told police she and her infant child had been riding with 43-year-old Michael Ousley, of Auxier, to the Prestonsburg Village Shopping Center.

The woman told officers Ousley appeared agitated during the drive and believed it was related to her getting a new job.

Police said the woman reported Ousley suddenly made a U-turn in the shopping center parking lot and drove at a high rate of speed toward Route 114 while the infant was no longer secured in a car seat.

The woman said she repeatedly asked Ousley to stop. She told police he eventually pulled over near Archer Park, where he allegedly attempted to strike her and grabbed her by the hair as she tried to leave the vehicle with the child.

Police said the woman was able to get away and was taken to the police station by another driver who reportedly witnessed the incident.

Ousley was later arrested outside his home. He is charged with felony wanton endangerment, misdemeanor assault and multiple traffic violations.

MCDOWELL, Ky. (WMDJ) — A McDowell man is facing multiple charges, including meth trafficking, following an incident during a traffic safety checkpoint in Floyd County.

According to court documents, Floyd County Sheriff’s deputies were conducting a checkpoint May 4 in McDowell when a red passenger car allegedly turned quickly onto Magnolia Street without using a signal.

Investigators say deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled on foot into a nearby thicket after stopping.

Authorities say a K9 alerted to suspected narcotics inside the vehicle. Deputies reportedly found three baggies containing a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine, along with identification belonging to 29-year-old Dalton Boone Frasure of Ky. 680.

Court records state Frasure was already wanted on an active arrest warrant.

Investigators say a K9 tracked the suspect for several hundred yards before deputies went to Frasure’s last known residence. According to the citation, a relative allowed deputies inside, where Frasure was found lying on a bed.

Frasure was lodged in the Floyd County Detention Center on charges including first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, second-degree fleeing or evading police on foot and traffic violations.

HI HAT, Ky. (WMDJ) — Two Floyd County residents are facing misdemeanor child abuse charges following an investigation involving social services and the Kentucky State Police.

According to court documents, investigators responded Tuesday, May 5, to a home on Ky. 122 at Hi Hat belonging to 55-year-old Scotty Lee Greene and 49-year-old Patricia Annette Greene.

Authorities say they were given consent to enter the home and check living conditions where a child had been staying.

The citation states responders found a basement bedroom used by the child with a wooden barrier attached to the outside of the door, allegedly preventing the child from leaving during nighttime hours. Investigators also reported finding a camera monitoring the room and an alarm system on the door.

According to the citation, mold was observed in the basement, along with a strong musty odor. The bedroom reportedly smelled strongly of urine, and what appeared to be human feces was found in one corner.

The child reportedly told investigators they were locked in the room at night and had to knock to be let out to use the restroom.

Both Greene and Greene were cited on charges of third-degree criminal abuse involving a child 12 or younger. They are scheduled to appear in court May 20.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) — Two of the three men charged in connection with the death of Amber Spradlin are supporting a request to delay the upcoming trial.

Dr. Michael McKinney and Josh Mullins, who are both charged with tampering with physical evidence, filed responses in support of Commonwealth’s Attorney Brent Turner’s renewed motion to continue the trial.

Turner has cited outstanding evidence testing that he says could be important to the case.

Attorneys for MK McKinney, who is charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence, have opposed further delays and continue to request a speedy trial.

In their filings, attorneys for Michael McKinney and Mullins said a delay is needed to ensure all relevant evidence is obtained, shared and reviewed before trial. They also said some of the pending evidence could potentially help the defense.

The filings point to forensic testing involving blood evidence and a handprint, saying the results could affect defense arguments about another person who was reportedly in the home that night.

A judge has also indicated the court may discuss whether MK McKinney’s co-defendants should be tried separately.

All three defendants are expected back in court Monday for a pretrial conference. Jury selection is currently scheduled to begin Tuesday, unless the judge changes that schedule.

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) — Multiple schools across Kentucky including Floyd and Johnson counties were placed on alert Wednesday morning following a series of threats that authorities now believe are part of a broader hoax.

Officials say Betsy Layne Elementary was among the first impacted, receiving what was described as an unclear threat. The school was placed on lockdown while law enforcement responded. No weapon was found, and the lockdown was later lifted.

Floyd Central High School was also placed on lockdown after receiving a similar threat.

In Johnson County, police responded to a bomb threat at Johnson Central High School. It was reported that K-9 Units were going to do a sweep of the school since it was designated as a bomb threat.

Authorities say all students at the affected schools are safe.

Prestonsburg Police report the threats appear to be coming from spoofed, internet-based phone applications and may be part of “swatting” incidents. The department says dozens of officers responded within minutes to the initial call at Betsy Layne Elementary, and response procedures were followed as intended.

The police did want to reassure the public that all Floyd County Schools have a designated School Resource Officer on a full time basis. The SRO at Betsy Layne Elementary made the initial report according to PPD. 

Kentucky State Police confirmed similar threats have been reported across the Commonwealth. Investigators say none of the threats have been deemed credible so far, and early findings suggest they may be tied to a robocalling campaign.

Law enforcement agencies, including Prestonsburg Police, the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office and Kentucky State Police, are continuing to investigate. Officials say all threats are taken seriously and will be fully investigated.

HAZARD, Ky. (WMDJ) — A Perry County man charged with murder in connection to a deadly UTV crash has pleaded guilty in a separate federal case.

Court officials say 26-year-old Noah Back, of Vicco, entered a guilty plea Friday to transporting a minor across state lines for illegal sexual activity.

He faces a sentence ranging from ten years to life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for September.

According to court documents, the federal investigation began after a UTV crash on February 28 in the Vicco area. Four people were in the vehicle, including two 16-year-old girls. One of them, Emilynn Clark, died from her injuries.

Investigators later reviewed social media posts following the crash that raised concerns about a relationship between Back and one of the surviving teens.

An affidavit states the FBI conducted a forensic interview with the minor in March. The teen told investigators the relationship began when she was in middle school and involved ongoing communication and in-person contact.

Court records also allege Back transported the minor to locations outside Kentucky, including trips to Georgia.

Authorities say records were used to verify ages and travel details as part of the investigation.

Back is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court in September. The state murder case connected to the crash remains pending.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ)— A Pikeville man is facing multiple charges following a shooting at a local bar early Saturday morning.

According to a news release from the Pikeville Police Department, officers responded to Klarissa’s Bar on North Bypass Road around 2:31 a.m. on May 3.

When officers arrived, they found a man with a gunshot wound to the upper leg. He was treated at the scene and taken to a nearby hospital.

Police say the shooting happened after a physical altercation between two individuals inside the bar. During the incident, one person allegedly pulled a firearm and fired multiple rounds, striking the victim and putting others in the area at risk.

Officers recovered several spent shell casings, along with a firearm and magazine believed to have been used. An additional extended magazine with ammunition was also found during the investigation.

A suspect was taken into custody and lodged at the Pike County Detention Center. He is charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault, first-degree wanton endangerment and possession of a loaded firearm in a business that sells alcohol.

The investigation remains ongoing.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WMDJ) — A former Paintsville doctor has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty in a federal drug case.

Don Bryson received a sentence of one year and one day after admitting to conspiracy to distribute Schedule II controlled substances. He entered the guilty plea in June 2024.

Investigators say Bryson had surrendered his medical license but later worked as a medical consultant at Appalachian Family Medicine, a clinic owned by his son. While doctors were brought in to treat patients, Bryson and his son maintained control of operations.

According to court records, the clinic limited safeguards such as urine testing and pill counts and discouraged doctors from lowering patient dosages. In one instance, a doctor without proper authorization used another doctor’s DEA registration number to write prescriptions.

Over four days, that doctor issued 79 prescriptions totaling more than 6,900 pills before the situation was discovered.

Bryson agreed to forfeit more than $124,000, along with the clinic building and a vehicle tied to the operation. He is scheduled to report to prison on July 14.

His son, Jeremy Bryson, was also convicted in the case and is set to be sentenced June 2.

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) — A judge has delayed the start of the murder trial in the death of Amber Spradlin by one day as prosecutors seek more time.

Special Judge Eddy Coleman issued the order Friday, moving the scheduled May 11 trial date to allow for a hearing on whether a longer delay is needed.

Spradlin’s body was found June 18, 2023, at a home on Arkansas Creek belonging to Prestonsburg dentist Michael McKinney.

His son, M.K. McKinney, is charged with murder. Michael McKinney and family friend Josh Mullins are charged with multiple counts of evidence tampering.

Commonwealth Attorney Brent Turner requested the delay, citing incomplete DNA testing in the case.

A hearing is now set for May 11, where prosecutors must present testimony from the state crime lab outlining the status of the testing and when results are expected.

The court will also consider whether to separate the cases, which could allow M.K. McKinney to go to trial while the other defendants face delays.

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) — An 80-year-old woman has died after a crash at a Prestonsburg senior center that injured three people.

Police say the incident happened April 24 at the Prestonsburg Senior Citizens Center when Mary Dotson, 79, backed out of a parking space.

Investigators say the vehicle slowed and nearly stopped before suddenly accelerating, striking two parked vehicles and hitting Ada DePoy, 80, of Prestonsburg. Police say she was dragged about 25 feet.

The SUV then hit the building, causing possible structural damage, before continuing backward and striking a bench where Charles Wallen, 67, and James McGuire, 69, were sitting.

DePoy later died from her injuries. The other two victims were taken to Highlands ARH with moderate injuries.

The driver was also taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Police say the crash appears to have been accidental, with the driver likely pressing the accelerator instead of the brake. Toxicology testing was requested as part of standard procedure, but impairment is not suspected.

The investigation is ongoing.