Federal Grand Jury Indicts Franklin, Kentucky Man for Child Sexual Exploitation Offenses

Bowling Green, KY –A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned an indictment on March 12, 2025, charging a Franklin, Kentucky man with distributing child pornography, possessing child pornography, and sexually exploiting children.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, and Sheriff Jere Hopson of the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.

According to the indictment, Joseph N. Roush, 27, was charged with one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of sexual exploitation of children.

The defendant previously made an initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The Court ordered the defendant detained pending trial. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 70 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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