The Times Journal

Posted March 6, 2019 at 9:18 am

Attorney General Andy Beshear has announced that a 30-year-old Russell Springs man has been arrested and charged with allegedly seeking sex with a minor.

Michael John Davidson traveled from Russell County to Frankfort on Friday, February 22 attempting to meet a minor for sex as part of the AG’s cyber unit’s undercover operation.

During the cyber investigation, Davidson sent sexual images of himself over the internet and discussed meeting the “minor” to preform sex acts.

Davidson was immediately arrested by AG cyber investigators with the assistance of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Secret Service. He was charged with one count of prohibited use of an electronic communication system to procure a minor for sex and a related drug charge.

“The attorney general is the chief advocate and protector for our Kentucky families, and it’s our job to ensure our communities are safe by taking off the streets anyone who would actively seek to sexually abuse any child,” Beshear said. “I appreciated the hard work of our cyber investigators, the work of the United States Secret Service and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.”

Davidson was being held in the Franklin County Detention Center on a $25,000 cash bond.

Over the past three years, the number of arrests, indictments and convictions by cyber investigators has reached historic levels, totaling more than 150.

Beshear said Kentuckians have a moral and legal duty to report any instance of child abuse to local law enforcement or the Kentucky’s Child Abuse hotline at 877-597-2331.

Beshear’s cyber investigators focus on arresting predators who seek to harm children in Kentucky communities and on the internet.

————————–

A Russell Springs man was arrested Sunday morning, February 24 after a police chase that ended in Adair County.

Russell Springs police were in pursuit of a 2016 Nissan Altima that crossed the Adair County line on KY Highway 80.

Adair County sheriff’s deputy Joey Keith then joined in the pursuit.

Columbia police officer Adam Cravens attempted to block the road and was rammed by the Altima, which caused considerable damage to the cruiser.

The damaged Altima continued for a quarter-mile, then crashed into an embankment at which time the suspect fled the vehicle on foot.

Adair County sheriff’s deputy Dereck Padgett located and arrested Michael Nichols, 31, 40 minutes later by Russell Creek, a half mile away. Nichols was then released into the custody of Russell Springs Police Chief Michael Irvin.

Nichols was charged with fleeing or evading police first degree (motor vehicle), fleeing or evading police first degree (on foot), operating on a suspended or revoked license, parole violation warrant, one headlight and no tail lamps.

Nichols was lodged in the Russell County Detention Center with bond and also faces charges in Adair County.