A local man has been arrested on charges of child sexual exploitation, according to information released by Kentucky State Police.

On Wednesday, June 26, the Kentucky State Police Electronic Crime Branch arrested Cletis D. Jones, 30. The arrest was the result of an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children investigation.

The KSP Electronic Crime Branch began the investigation after discovering the suspect allegedly communicated online with an undercover investigator who he believed to be a 14-year-old female.

The investigation resulted in the execution of a search warrant at an apartment in Monticello on June 25. Equipment used to facilitate the crime was seized and taken to KSP’s forensic laboratory for examination.

Jones is currently charged with one count of prohibited use of an electronic communication system to procure a minor and two counts of distribution of obscene matter to a minor. The prohibited use of an electronic communication system to procure a minor is a Class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.

The distribution of obscene matter to a minor is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail.

Jones was lodged in the Wayne County Detention Center and the investigation is ongoing.

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The charges against two local daycare workers have been dismissed, after neither woman was indicted by the Wayne County Grand Jury.

According to documents filed in Wayne Circuit Court, the cases against Tasha Cox and Diana Myers were presented to the Wayne County Grand Jury on Tuesday, June 18.

The grand jury did not return indictments in either case.

Cox was charged with failure to report child dependent neglect/abuse. Myers was originally charged with criminal abuse first degree, which was later amended to criminal abuse second degree.

In an order signed by Circuit Judge Vernon Miniard, the charges against both Myers and Cox were dismissed without prejudice.

It was a case that drew national media attention, when both women were charged in connection with the investigation into alleged child abuse at Wendy’s Wonderland, where they were employed.

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department initiated an investigation following an incident on April 19, when officials said that Myers allegedly backed a two-year-old girl under a table and shook a doll at her.

The citation in the case indicated that Myers was aware the child had a fear of dolls and small animals.

The complaint alleged the incident was recorded by Cox and later posted on Facebook.

Myers was represented in the case by defense attorney George Bertram, who stated during a preliminary hearing in the case his client was singing to the little girl during the incident.

“Essentially what you see is someone trying to soothe the child,” Bertram told The Outlook. “If a child is crying, you act silly, you sing a song, you play with a doll.”

During the preliminary hearing on May 13, Bertram asked that the judge view the 19-second video and asked that all charges in the case be dropped for lack of probable cause.

District Judge James Lawson sent the case to the grand jury for consideration.

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A stolen vehicle was recovered and one man arrested by the Monticello Police Department on Monday, June 24.

According to Police Chief Joe Bybee, Travis McDowell was charged with receiving stolen property under $10,000, fleeing and evading police second degree and criminal mischief third degree.

The arrest came after the police department investigated the report of a stolen vehicle.

Captain Tony Morris located the truck in a field on Sidwell Street.

McDowell fled the scene, according to police.

He was apprehended by Bybee, Deputy Cody Neal and Sheriff Tim Catron.

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department has also charged McDowell with two counts of failure to appear and receiving stolen property under $500.

He was lodged in the Wayne County Detention Center.