A plea deal was reached Monday morning in Christian Circuit Court for a Hopkinsville man accused of telecommunication sex crimes.
Seventy-year old Kenneth Bundy entered an Alford plea to use of an electronic communication system to procure a minor and first degree solicitation to unlawful transaction with a minor under the age of 16 involving a sex act. An Alford plea works the same as a guilty plea, but only requires the defendant to admit that there is sufficient evidence that would likely lead to a conviction if the case went to trial.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling explained that the deal comes with a recommended one-year sentence and that Bundy must register as a sex offender.
Boling reiterated that Bundy never had physical contact with any minor and public defender Eric Bearden said the charges came as a result of an undercover investigation.
Bundy has been in jail for 17 months, but Judge John Atkins declined to release him on bond at this time, saying there needs to be a sex offender evaluation completed—which is expected in the next couple weeks.
Oak Grove police investigated the incident, saying he used a cell phone to talk to a person he believed to 15-years old in an attempt to engage in illegal sexual conduct.
Formal sentencing is set for May 11.