CORNETTSVILLE (KY)
Baptist Press [Nashville TN]
October 16, 2026
By Mark Maynard
A Kentucky Baptist pastor in Perry County was arrested Tuesday on 17 counts of distributing matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under 12.
Jared Oneil Salmons, 48, of Leburn, is pastor of Mount Olivet Baptist Church in Cornettsville.
Kentucky State Police said Salmons was located, interviewed and arrested as part of an Internet Crimes Against Children 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 statement said.
Investigators served a search warrant at Salmons’ residence Tuesday and seized equipment allegedly used in the offenses, according to the statement. The equipment was taken to KSP’s forensic laboratory for examination.
According to the citation, Salmons admitted during an interview to creating AI-generated images and that he owned the email account associated with the alleged illegal internet activity. The charges are a Class C felony punishable by 5-10 years in prison.
Salmons is lodged in the Kentucky River Regional Jail in Hazard on a $50,000 cash bond. His next court appearance is Tuesday.
The investigation remains ongoing, KSP said.
Salmons also served as general manager of the Knott County Water and Sewer District but was fired after his arrest, according to Knott County Judge-Executive Jeff Dobson.
Lawrence Smith, communications director for the Kentucky Baptist Convention, said the organization is aware of the arrest and charges.
“The KBC takes seriously the physical, spiritual and emotional safety of all who attend our affiliated churches, and this news is deeply troubling,” Smith said. “As this case makes its way through the judicial system, we ask Kentucky Baptists to pray for the church, for all the individuals and families who may be involved and that justice is served.”
Smith said the KBC has not been advised of Salmons’ status with Mount Olivet.