SCIENCE HILL, Ky. (April 30, 2025) – On April 29, 2025, at approximately 4:42 p.m., the Kentucky State Police (KSP) Electronic Crime Branch interviewed and arrested Ricky Bumgardner, 44, on charges related to a child sexual abuse material investigation.
Bumgardner was located, interviewed, and arrested as the result of an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigation. The KSP Electronic Crime Branch began the investigation after discovering the suspect uploading sexually explicit images of juveniles to one of his social media accounts.
The investigation resulted in executing a search warrant for his residence in Science Hill on April 29, 2025. Equipment used to facilitate the crime was seized and taken to KSP’s forensic laboratory for examination. The investigation is still ongoing.
Ricky Bumgardner is currently charged with three counts of promoting a minor under the age of 16 in a sexual performance. This charge is a Class-B felony punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison. Bumgardner was also charged with 20 counts of possessing matter portraying a minor under the age of 12 in a sexual performance. This charge is a Class-C felony punishable by five to ten years in prison. Ricky Bumgardner was lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center.
The Kentucky Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is comprised of more than twenty-six local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The mission of the ICAC Task Force, created by the United States Department of Justice and administrated by the Kentucky State Police, is to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in developing a response to cyber enticement and child sexual abuse material investigations. This support encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, prevention and community education. The ICAC program was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the internet, the proliferation of child sexual abuse material, and the heightened online activity of predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims.
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