Jonathan Thornsbury

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Rachel Dove-Baldwin

Staff Writer

PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A case that had shocked the Tug Valley area earlier this month was presented to the 2013 Pike County Grand Jury when they convened last week for consideration of indictments.

According to Commonwealth Attorney, Rick L. Bartley, a true-bill was returned against Jonathan Thornsbury, 20, of Sidney, Ky., after jurors heared testimony from troopers with Post 9 of the Kentucky State Police (KSP) regarding his arrest on brutal, sexual assault charges said to be so severe in nature that the victim had to be admitted to the Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) Intensive Care Unit.

Thornsbury was indicted on charges of attempted murder (Class B Felony), rape, 1st degree (Class B Felony), sodomy, 1st degree, and being a persistent felony offender, 2nd degree (Class A Felony).

The Grand Jury charges that on March 7, 2013 (Count I), Thornsbury committed the offense of attempted murder when he unlawfully beat the female victim and threatened to kill her. Count II (rape, 1st degree) and Count III (sodomy, 1st degree) of the indictment states that the defendant engaged in sexual intercourse and deviate sexual intercourse with said victim through the use of forcible compulsion.

Count IV of the indictment states that the defendant, standing now convicted of the captioned offense, is being charged with the offense of being a persistent felony offender, 2nd degree, for the reason that Thorsnbury, now more than 21 years of age, was previously convicted of a felony charge in 2008 and the sentences therein imposed was for a term of imprisonment of 1 year or more, and that the new charges filed against the defendant occurred within a 5 year time frame of the previous felony (2008).

According to the criminal complaint filed by KSP Trooper Jimmy Nolte, on Thursday, March 7, he was dispatched to Sidney, Ky. on a domestic disturbance call. While enroute to the residence, he was notified that the parties allegedly involved had left the location. A description of the vehicle was provided to Nolte and was discovered a short time later at a local business.

Upon making contact with Thornsbury, Trooper Nolte observed an unresponsive female inside the vehicle. EMS arrived at the scene and transported the victim to PMC, where she was admitted to the ICU for treatment of injuries.

During the arrest procedure, the defendant was also charged with resisting arrest, menacing and public intoxication charges unrelated to the above list of indictment charges. Further updates will be featured pertaining to this case as information is made available.