Owens sentenced to 15 years

SALYERSVILLE –A Magoffin County man was sentenced to 15 years in prison on rape-related charges last week.

Jared B. Owens, 27, of Salyersville, was sentenced on February 15 in Magoffin County Circuit Court, with the judge accepting his guilty plea to two counts of first-degree rape (Class B felonies) and three counts of first-degree sexual abuse (Class D felonies), and accepting the Commonwealth’s offer for 15 years in prison.

Owens was first arrested on January 10, 2023, at his residence after allegations from a juvenile female were made to the Kentucky State Police, claiming he forcibly raped the minor two days prior.

In the judgment and sentencing order issued last week, the court sentenced Owens to 15 years in prison for both counts of rape, and five years for each of the sexual abuse charges, all to run concurrently with each other, as well as five years of conditional discharge following release and no contact with the victim. He also must submit to lifetime sexual offender registration and undergo sexual offender evaluation and follow through with treatment conditions. The judge did note that Owens is not amenable to treatment at this time.

He was also ordered to pay $130 in court costs, must enter and complete a sex offender treatment program while incarcerated. He will be financially responsible for any treatment required by himself and any treatment required by the victims of his offense, and must keep those accounts current. He is also ordered to fully inform any potential partner in advance of his sex offense history and include his treatment status. He cannot reside in a setting where there are children, hold employment that would place him in contact with or control over children, be involved in an organization involving children, or date, live with, or otherwise align himself with any person involved with children without express prior approval of his therapist and community supervision agent.

Owens will be credited with time spent in custody prior to sentencing, as calculated by the Department of Corrections.

At press time, Owens remains at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.

Editor’s Note: The indictment or charge of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.