Local grand jury issues indictments for abuse, animal cruelty crimes

A Christian County Grand Jury issued indictments for child abuse, wanton endangerment and animal cruelty crimes on Friday.

Forty-four-year-old Charles Greathouse of Hopkinsville was arrested on June 15 after a small child, in his and another person’s care, was reportedly found outside knocking on the doors of nearby homes. Then, a search of the home allegedly revealed poor conditions that placed the two children living there at risk for physical injury.

Greathouse was indicted for second-degree criminal abuse of a child 12 years or under and third-degree abuse of a child under 12 years of age.

Twenty-four-year-old Courtney Gibbs of Hopkinsville was indicted on three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment after she reportedly committed an offense in September 2024 that posed a substantial risk of death to three people.

Forty-seven-year-old Martin Hartwig of Hopkinsville was indicted for multiple charges after he reportedly killed a dog by slamming it into the ground on July 5. He was indicted for torturing a dog or cat, second-degree animal cruelty, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, failure to maintain required insurance and having expired registration plates.