Pike County Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening Kentucky Judge-Executive Ray Jones
Ashland,KY – Ronald Ferguson Jr., a resident of Elkhorn City, Kentucky, has pleaded guilty to a federal charge stemming from threats made against Pike County Judge-Executive Ray Jones via social media. The guilty plea, entered in federal court, acknowledges Ferguson’s direct threats to harm Jones earlier this year.
Ferguson’s actions involved posting videos on Facebook in February where he explicitly vowed to “hunt” down Judge-Executive Jones and threatened to shoot him on the steps of the courthouse. These threats prompted a federal inquiry and subsequent charges.
According to court documents, Ferguson admitted to making these statements in a signed plea agreement. The specific federal charge to which he pleaded guilty has not been publicly disclosed, but it carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 16th, at which time the judge will consider the details of the case and Ferguson’s plea agreement in determining the final punishment.
This case highlights the increasing concern surrounding online threats and the legal consequences associated with such actions. Law enforcement agencies are taking a firm stance against individuals who utilize social media to intimidate or threaten public officials.
Keywords: Ray Jones, Ronald Ferguson Jr., Pike County, Kentucky, Judge-Executive, threat, social media, Facebook, federal charge, sentencing, online threats, Elkhorn City.
Note: Data regarding the specific federal charge was not available in the initial source and could not be verified through a quick search. Further investigation would be needed to include this detail.
Keep reading