Sheriff charges 5 in alleged adult exploitation case

Yahoo

3 days ago

The Daviess County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) charged five people Friday in what it's calling an adult exploitation case.
The suspects who have been charged are Jessie A. Hoge, 34, Patricia K. Hoge, 54, Crystal Starr Hoge, 41, Brittany Jo Gray, 28, and Damien Moak, 35, all of Philpot.
According to the DCSO report, detectives, patrol deputies, and animal control officers executed search warrants on Friday in the 5200 block of Pleasant Valley Road as part of an adult exploitation investigation.
During the search of the residence, detectives seized evidence and detained multiple suspects who were taken to DCSO to be interviewed prior to being charged and lodged at the Daviess County Detention Center.
According to the report, the investigation began in April following the death of an adult male who had been residing at the Pleasant Valley Road residence with the suspects. Prior to being moved to the suspects' residence, the victim lived in the 2100 block of Fieldcrest Drive in Owensboro in a home that he owned.
The report said several of his neighbors had grown concerned about suspicious activity at his residence including unknown persons entering and exiting his residence in the weeks preceding his sudden move and subsequent death and reported their concerns to law enforcement.
The report said deputy Tommy Ferry began investigating the reports, and eventually the case was assigned to Det. Matt Fitzgerald of the DCSO Criminal Investigations Division.
According to the report, several legal documents, including a will and property deeds, had been allegedly forged by the suspects and that one of the suspects had moved into the Fieldcrest home with the victim and eventually facilitated moving the victim — though he still owned the Fieldcrest Drive home — to the suspects' house on Pleasant Valley Road days before the victim's death.
According to the report, sheriff's investigators have located more than $20,000 worth of the victim's property at area pawn shops, and are continuing to investigate several fraudulent bank transactions as well as items missing from the victim's safety deposit box. Many items belonging to the victim were located at the suspect's residence on Pleasant Valley Road including several firearms and a Mercedes vehicle, though due to health reasons he was no longer able to drive prior to his passing.
Along with DCSO, the report said the investigation has been closely coordinated with the Daviess County Commonwealth's Attorney Office and the Department of Community Based Services (DCBS).
'DCSO would like these arrests to serve as a warning to those in our community who would prey on the most vulnerable members or society,' said Sheriff Brad Youngman in a written statement. 'What they did was very wrong. If you have elderly or infirmed people in your family or neighborhood, please keep an eye on them to ensure they don't fall victim to this type of criminal activity. While I wish we could have intervened sooner, it is my hope that the actions of my deputies and detectives can still bring justice to this victim and his family. Thank you to the victim's neighbors who saw something that didn't look right and reported it to law enforcement. Without their involvement we may never have uncovered these crimes.'
Jessie A. Hoge has been charged with second-degree forgery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, knowingly exploiting an adult by person over $300, receiving stolen property $1,000 to $10,000 and second-degree cruelty to animals.
Patricia K. Hoge has been charged with possession of marijuana (firearm enhanced), possession of drug paraphernalia buy/possess (firearm enhanced) and endangering the welfare of a minor.
Crystal Starr Hoge has been charged with possession of marijuana (firearm enhanced) possession of drug paraphernalia buy/possess (firearm enhanced) and endangering the welfare of a minor.
Gray was charged with secondary-degree forgery and second-degree animal cruelty.
Moak was charged with endangering the welfare of a minor (cited into court).
The report said additional charges are anticipated as the investigation continues.
Due to unacceptable living conditions in the residence including uninhibited access to drugs and firearms, DCBS Child Protective Services were called to the scene to assist with and remove two children living in the home.
DCSO animal control officers assisted in the execution of the search warrant and removed several animals from the property due to evidence of neglect and poor living conditions.