Hopkins County Grand Jury Hands Down Indictments for Crimes Involving Minors, Drugs, and Assault

Charges include wanton endangerment, electronic crimes, trafficking, and abuse

Apr. 2, 2026 at 5:30pm

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The Hopkins County Grand Jury has issued a series of indictments for a range of criminal cases, including charges related to electronic crimes involving minors, theft, wanton endangerment, drug offenses, and assault on law enforcement and inmates at the county detention center.

Why it matters

These indictments highlight the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in addressing crimes that endanger children, as well as the broader issues of drug abuse, mental health, and violence within the criminal justice system in this region of Kentucky.

The details

The indictments cover several separate incidents, including a case where two young children tested positive for fentanyl exposure, an alleged felon in possession of a firearm, a false report of a threat, and multiple assaults on inmates and officers at the county jail. Prosecutors are also pursuing charges against an individual accused of using electronic means to solicit a minor for sexual activity.

  • On December 9, 2025, police assisted probation officers at a home and found two children, ages 3 and 4, near drug paraphernalia.
  • On February 14th, an investigation by the Hopkins County Sheriff's Office led to charges against Ricky Holzhauser.
  • On February 12th, Madisonville police responded to a residence after receiving a text from Alexis Massey.
  • Keph McCune was indicted for assaults on January 13th, February 2nd, and February 8th at the Hopkins County Detention Center.
  • Kimberly Thompson was charged on December 10, 2025 and February 21st.

The players

Cody Ellison

A Madisonville resident indicted on two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment and second-degree persistent felony offender.

Ricky Holzhauser

An Earlington resident indicted on charges of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.

Alexis Massey

A Madisonville resident indicted on charges of public intoxication and falsely reporting an incident.

Keph McCune

A Dawson Springs resident indicted on three counts of third-degree assault and one count of second-degree strangulation for incidents at the Hopkins County Detention Center.

Kimberly Thompson

A Madisonville resident indicted on a charge of second-degree criminal abuse of a child under 12 and first-degree trafficking methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to aggressively prosecute those who endanger children and engage in drug-related crimes in our community.”

— District Attorney

What’s next

The defendants will appear in court in the coming weeks to be arraigned on the charges.

The takeaway

These indictments underscore the ongoing challenges law enforcement and the justice system face in addressing a range of criminal activities that put vulnerable populations, including children, at risk in this region.