Franklin man federally indicted on child pornography distribution charges

BOWLING, Ky. – A Franklin man has been indicted by on child pornography charges by a federal grand jury in Bowling Green.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Kentucky, says Joseph N. Roush, 27, has been indicted on charges of distribution of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of sexual exploitation of children.

The office says Roush previously appeared in court before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Roush was ordered to be detained pending trial.

If convicted, Roush will serve a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 70 years in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal prison system.

The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office.

Roush was arrested on February 13, 2025 by the South-Central Kentucky Drug Task Force and charged with Roush faces charges of tampering with physical evidence, four counts of distribution of matter portraying a sex performance by a minor under 12, 30 counts distribution of matter portraying a sex performance by a minor over 12 but under 18 and possession of matter of a sex performance by a minor over 12 but under 18, first offense.

Franklin man charged with possession of child sexual exploitation material