A single tip about a teen’s alleged Snapchat conversations with juvenile girls has now exploded into a long list of felony charges in Fleming County — and state police say the investigation is not over.
Kentucky State Police said troopers at Post 8 in Morehead received a crime tip through the agency’s website on December 14, 2025, alleging an adult male was having inappropriate conversations with juvenile females using Snapchat. After what KSP described as a lengthy investigation, troopers charged Joseph Slone, 19, of Flemingsburg, with multiple offenses tied to alleged child sexual exploitation material and illegal communications with minors, according to the agency’s release.
In the body of the release, KSP listed the charges as: 41 counts of possession of matter portraying a sex performance by a minor (older than 12 but under 18), two counts of distribution of obscene matter to minors (first offense), nine counts of procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means, three counts of unlawful transaction with a minor (first-degree, illegal sex act), and one count of promoting a sexual performance by a minor (under 18).
KSP said the Fleming County Sheriff’s Department assisted, and the case remains under investigation by Trooper Marvin Morris. Anyone with information should call (606) 845-4701.
While juvenile victims are typically not identified in cases like this, the absence of names can still leave a community with the same gut-level question: How long did it go on before someone spoke up — and how many people saw warning signs?
What parents should take from this
Cases that start with online messages often begin with things that look “small” until they aren’t: secret accounts, disappearing-message apps, sudden isolation, or a teen being pressured to move chats off-platform. If you suspect exploitation, you can report tips to:
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (CyberTipline): 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)
- In an emergency, call 911.
