Parents indicted for human trafficking

Local News

May 20, 2011

By Ronica Shannon Register News Writer The Richmond Register Fri May 20, 2011, 08:01 AM EDT

RICHMOND — Two Madison County parents were indicted Wednesday on human trafficking charges and could spend up to 20 years in prison for allegedly selling the sexual favors of their teenage daughters.

Kathy and Anthony Wayne Hart were indicted for “... arranging for their 13- and 14-year-old daughters to provide companionship and affection to male individuals in exchange for money and goods ...,” the indictment reads.

The incidents reportedly took place between Oct. 10, 2009, and Feb. 24, 2011.

Human trafficking is a Class B felony, punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Madison County authorities began investigating the Harts on Dec. 11 when a Foley Middle School teacher called Richmond Police to report two students from her school dressed “inappropriately” as they stood in front of the cinema at Richmond Centre.

The teacher also told police she heard a man ask the girls’ father “how much he wanted for both of them.”

The girls were dressed in “lacy, hot-pink negligee-like tops, tight jeans and boots,” according to Richmond Police Officer Nicholas Duvall who came to investigate, Boyle said. The temperature was in the 30s.

Duvall interviewed both girls, who told him their mother “made them go out with guys for money, food and clothing.” Their mother would yell at them if they did not hold hands and let themselves be touched and kissed, Boyle said, relaying Duvall’s report. The girls were never hit by their parents, however, she said they told the Richmond officer.

Berea Police were called when the teacher reported that the girls failed to show up for school the following Monday. Boyle said she was unable to locate the family until the girls were enrolled at a middle school in a nearby county after the first of the year.

Boyle and an investigator from the state Department of Children and Family Services then went to the school and interviewed the girls. Both said their mother would approach men at Walmart or Kroger and asked if they wanted to spend time with her girls.

The mother would encourage them to let the men touch and kiss them because they would receive money and clothing in exchange, Boyle said the girls told her.

The men also would take photos of them “with their clothes partially off,” Boyle testified.

After hearing that, Boyle said she obtained consent from the parents to enter the motel where the family had been staying and obtained their digital camera and reviewed its contents.

The older girl, age 14, said one of the men who came to their home sexually assaulted her as her mother watched, Boyle said. The younger girl then attempted to come to her sister’s aid.

Both girls are living in foster care and are in counseling, Boyle said.

The two remained in the Madison County Detention Center Thursday without bond.

Anthony Hart already has served two years in a Boyle County prison four years ago for attempting to sell a child for adoption.

Anthony and Kathy Hart have had brushes with the law in up to five Kentucky counties going back at least 10 years, according to documents attached to their arrest citations.

In late 2002, both were indicted by a Boyle County grand jury on the child-selling charge, but the case against Kathy Hart was dismissed in 2004.

Another man indicted for having contact with girls

The grand jury also found evidence to indict Alexander Gomez-Lopez, 23, for first-degree sexual abuse, a Class D felony, and attempted second-degree rape, Class A misdemeanor.

A picture of Gomez-Lopez was found on the Hart’s confiscated digital camera.

He was arrested by Berea police after the 13- and 14-year-old girls identified him as one of several men their parents allowed to have sexual contact with them.

One photo shows Gomez-Lopez with the two girls, which they said was taken by their mother, Boyle testified.

His cell phone was seized when he was arrested, the detective said, and it is being analyzed by the Kentucky State Police laboratory.

Gomez-Lopez also attempted to rape one of them while their mother was close enough to hear, both girls claimed when they were interviewed separately by Boyle and an employee of the state Department of Children and Families, the detective said.

He also is wanted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and is being held at the Madison County Detention Center without bond. If convicted, Gomez-Lopez could serve up to five years in prison.

An indictment is a formal statement of charges and does not imply guilt.

Register Senior News Writer Bill Robinson contributed to this story.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@

richmondregister.com or 624-6608.

Text Only

Local News

Paradise Cove open through Labor Day Opening day of Paradise Cove Family Aquatic Center coincided with a spike in temperatures Friday which reached 90 degrees. The facility, located in Richmond’s Lake Reba Park, will be open through Sept. 3. Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
May 26, 2012
Dump of the Day
An old mattress, a car seat and other debris sit Friday afternoon on North Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets where it was first spotted Thursday. The “Dump of the Day” is a recurring series the Richmond Register publishes to highlight illegal trash piles and push local governments to cite perpetrators and get illegal dumps cleaned up. See Sunday’s Richmond Register to read a copy of the city’s ordinance related to trash pickup.

May 26, 2012 1 Photo
Undefeated academic team brings pride to Madison Middle School
Madison Middle School 6th and 7th grade academic teams have been undefeated for the last two years.
The 8th grade team also has done well, having some students qualify to compete at the state level.

May 26, 2012
Woman fends off burglar with knife
A Berea woman used a kitchen knife to fend off an alleged burglar early Wednesday morning, and police say they were able to catch the man in the act.

May 26, 2012 1 Photo
Man is indicted on additional sex charge involving teen in 1998
A man already accused of sex abuse in November 2011 has been indicted on a charge of first-degree rape involving a child in 1998.
Charles W. Peyton, 63, of East Irvine Street, was indicted Wednesday by a Madison grand jury. He used “forcible compulsion” to have sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl between March 1 and May 1 in 1998, according to the indictment.

May 26, 2012
Woman fends off burglar with knife
A Berea woman used a kitchen knife to fend off an alleged burglar early Wednesday morning, and police say they were able to catch the man in the act.
Officers responded to a call in the 1000 block of Scaffold Cane Road about a man trying to break into a home, according to a release from BPD Public Information Officer Jake Reed.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Pets of the Week from the Madison County Animal Shelter
The Madison County Animal Shelter is located at 1386 Richmond Road in Berea. Shelter hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Animals available for adoption can be seen from noon to close Monday through Saturday. The adoption fee for cats and kittens is $10. Puppies and grown dogs may be adopted for $25. Adoptions include a free veterinary exam, a first series of vaccinations, a discount on spaying and neutering, free licensing and de-worming. Call the shelter at 986-9625.

May 25, 2012 2 Photos
A big sister’s reflection on life, love and changes
Yesterday was my Little Sister’s graduation. This one, though, was especially important to me.

May 24, 2012 2 Photos
Veterans will conduct Memorial Day programs
Although Memorial Day weekend may be a time of picnics and barbecue for many, some will be observing the day’s original meaning.

May 24, 2012
EKU Arts Center attendance tops 50,000 mark
The Center for the Arts at Eastern Kentucky University has played host during its inaugural season to more than 50,500 guests from more than 30 states and abroad, according to data released by EKU.

May 24, 2012 3 Photos
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Parents indicted for human trafficking

A recent health ranking listed Madison County as the 20th healthiest county in the state. It measured factors such as exercise, access to health care and smoking. Do you smoke cigarettes?

Site Map