UPPER MASH FORK – Police were called to a Mash Fork residence regarding a report of a male for child internet sex crimes.
According to the arrest citation, on May 6, Kentucky State Police Post 9 Trooper M. Spencer was dispatched to a disturbance on Upper Mash Fork Road, with dispatch telling police they had received a call from Michael Murphy, reporting that his colleague, Ryan Couture, was at the residence of Joshua Gullett, and wanted to report Gullett for reported child internet sex crimes.
Murphy told police that Gullett had been sending sexual messages and pictures over Facebook to Ryan Couture, whom he thought was a 13-year-old female juvenile named Rebecca Duke, according to the police report.
Upon arriving at the home, Trooper Spencer made contact with Couture, who showed police the messages sent to his phone from Joshua Gullett. He told police the messages had been sent to his account over the span of the last 12 months. Trooper Spencer reported viewing the messages asking for sex, as well as a nude photo of Joshua Gullett showing his genitals. There was a photo of the fake 13-year-old juvenile on this phone along with the messages reportedly from Gullett. Couture allowed police to download the messages and photos from his phone, according to the citation.
Police made contact with Gullett, who reportedly admitted the account was his and thought he was talking to a 13-year-old female, according to the police report.
Joshua Gullett, 41, of Salyersville, was detained and his phone was seized as evidence. He was charged with procuring or promoting the use of minor by electronic means, and he was taken to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, where he was released on bond the next day. He his scheduled for an arraignment hearing on May 18 at 9 a.m. at the Magoffin County Justice 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.
