Edgewood Man Face Life In Prison After Pleading Guilty To 92 Offenses Of Child Abuse, Child Molesting, Child Pornography, and Torturing A Cat
On March 2, 2023, Christopher Michael Whittaker, 39, pleaded guilty to 84 felony offenses related to physical and sexual abuse of his girlfriend’s children, and 8 misdemeanor offenses for torturing the family’s pet cat. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Emily J. Arnzen refused to offer Whittaker any plea deals, so Whittaker faces a possible punishment of up to Life in Prison. Formal final sentencing is scheduled for April 25, 2023 before Kenton Circuit Judge Patricia Summe.
Also on March 2, 2023, Whittaker’s girlfriend, Michelle Bray, was indicted by the Kenton County Grand Jury on one count of Human Trafficking, in addition to her previous indictment for 3 counts of Complicity to Criminal Abuse 1st Degree, 4 counts of Complicity to Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Minor, and 1 count of Complicity to Sexual Abuse 1st Degree. Bray is scheduled to stand trial on April 5, 2023. Bray faces up to 70 years in prison if convicted as charged. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Whittaker pleaded guilty to 3 counts of Complicity to Criminal Abuse 1st Degree, 4 counts of Complicity to Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Minor, and 1 count of Complicity to Sexual Abuse 1st Degree, all for offenses committed with Bray. Whittaker also pleaded guilty to 10 counts of 1st Degree Sodomy (Child <12), 2 counts of 2nd Degree Sodomy (Child <14), 1 count of 3rd Degree Sodomy (Child <16), 3 counts of 2nd Degree Rape (Child <14), 1 count of 3rd Degree Rape (Child <16), 12 counts of 1st Degree Sexual Abuse (Child <12), 6 counts of 1st Degree Sexual Abuse (forcible compulsion), 33 counts of Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Minor (Child <16), and 8 counts of Torture of a Dog or Cat.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Emily Arnzen said "I will absolutely be asking the judge to sentence this defendant to Life in Prison, and he knows it but pled guilty anyway!" Arnzen credited Edgewood Police Detective James Kreinest's work on the case saying "Detective Kreinest armed me with the evidence needed to obtain a guilty verdict without a trial, and we hope to follow that up with the maximum possible sentence!"
For additional information contact:
Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders
rsanders@prosecutors.ky.gov
(859) 292-6580
Posted on Friday, March 3rd, 2023 @ 1:11PM
Categories: Blog, Commonwealth's Commentary, Media/Press Releases, Press Room
