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Kentucky sheriff's office issues statement as details emerge about husband of woman charged with incest and sodomy involving child under 12
A Kentucky sheriff's office has released a statement clarifying its connection to the husband of a woman accused of sexually abusing a child under 12.
As previously reported, Lauren Winans, from Bardstown, was arrested on Thursday on charges of incest, sexual abuse, and first-degree sodomy involving a child under 12.
According to an indictment returned by a Nelson County grand jury, she is accused of committing sexual offenses against a child under 12 between January 1, 2022, and November 20, 2022.
Per The New York Post, the indictment alleges that Winans "committed the offense of sodomy in the first degree by engaging in deviate sexual intercourse with C.G.W., a person less than twelve years of age".
The 31-year-old is also accused of incest, with the indictment claiming that she "committed the offense of incest when she had sexual intercourse or deviate sexual intercourse with a person whom she knew to be an ancestor who was less than twelve years of age."
It remains unclear whether the alleged incest offense involved the same child mentioned in the other charges against Winans, with court documents not specifying how the alleged victim or victims are related to her.
Kentucky's sheriff's office released a statement
Shortly after the woman's arrest, attention turned to her husband, Andy, who works in law enforcement.
Questions circulated online about his connection to the Nelson County Sheriff's Office, prompting the department to clarify that he was a former employee who now serves with the Bardstown Police Department.
The sheriff's office also stressed that it had no involvement in the investigation into his wife and had not been aware of the allegations against her.
In a statement addressing public inquiries, the department said: "The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office is issuing the following statement to address recent public inquiries and provide accurate information: Ongoing Investigation: The Kentucky State Police (KSP) is the primary investigating agency regarding the allegations involving Lauren Winans."
"The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office was not aware of these allegations, holds no details regarding the case, and is not involved in the investigation. Inquiries should be directed to KSP," they continued.
The department spoke about pictures circulating online, saying: "Regarding the photos featuring an agency vehicle, our administration deemed the conduct completely inappropriate. Prompt disciplinary action was taken at the time of the incident."
They then shared a "personnel clarification" about Andy, writing that he "is no longer employed by the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office. He resigned from our agency and joined the Bardstown Police Department in early 2026".
"Our office remains fully committed to accountability, transparency, and upholding the trust of the Nelson County community," they concluded.
Winans is currently being held in the LaRue County Detention Center. Her arraignment is scheduled for November 5. She has not yet posted the $250,000 bail she's being held on.
She could get life in jail if convicted on the top count of first-degree sodomy.