Police: Kentucky teen sodomized in critically injuring videotaped assault

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A group of young men and teenagers sodomized a 15-year-old boy, critically injuring him in an attack that was recorded on video and shared among cellphones, authorities said Thursday.

The assault occurred at a home in Hopkinsville in western Kentucky, and three men and two juveniles have been charged, Christian County sheriff's Capt. Chris Miller said.

The victim was in intensive care Thursday at a hospital in Clarksville, Tennessee. The boy's condition has improved since the attack early Sunday left him with life-threatening injuries, Miller said.

Police have not released a possible motive or many details about what happened. Four people face sodomy charges and the other had a video of the attack, Miller said. The victim knew his attackers, and all are from the Hopkinsville area.

"We haven't uncovered any kind of premeditated plans," he said.

Investigators weren't sure whether the video was posted to any websites. Authorities are still interviewing people and more arrests are possible, Miller said.

Authorities didn't become aware of the assault until after the boy had been taken to Gateway Medical Center in Clarksville, Miller said. The sheriff's office wouldn't say who took him there. Hopkinsville is about a half-hour drive from Clarksville.

Two 17-year-old boys and two adults were arrested Tuesday.

Tyler R. Perry, 19, and Dayton R. Jones, 20, were charged with first-degree sodomy, promoting a sexual performance by a minor and use of a minor in a sexual performance. Perry also faces a charge of tampering with physical evidence. Jones is also charged with distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor. Both are being held in the Christian County Jail.

An attorney listed on court records for Jones did not return a phone call seeking comment. Perry is represented by the public defender's office, and an attorney will soon be assigned to the case, the office's directing attorney said Thursday.

One juvenile faces first-degree sodomy and tampering with physical evidence charges; the other is accused of possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor.

The fifth suspect was apprehended Wednesday in Louisville. Samuel Miller, 18, was returned to Christian County and charged with first-degree sodomy, promoting a minor in a sex performance, use of a minor in a sex performance and distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor. Miller was being held in the Christian County Jail.

Jones is a junior at Arkansas State University, where he was a member of the school's golf team. He was dismissed from the team pending the outcome of the charges against him, said Jerry Scott, a school spokesman.

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