March 17, 2025 – An Adair County Circuit Court jury found Demaurion Moore, age 19, guilty of several crimes Friday (March 14, 2025) following a three-day jury trial. Moore was convicted of First-Degree Rape, Complicity to First-Degree Sodomy, Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Minor, First-Degree Riot, and two (2) counts of Fourth-Degree Assault. The jury recommended that Moore serve a total of 25 years in prison.
The charges against Moore were the result of his involvement in a riot that occurred at the Adair Youth Development Center (AYDC) in November 2022. According to testimony at trial, Moore, who was 17 years old at the time and from Louisville, had been detained at AYDC for a short period of time prior to the riot. The riot began when another juvenile assaulted a Youth Worker at the facility and was able to gain possession of the worker’s keys. The juvenile was able to lock the worker inside a cell at the facility and proceeded to use the worker’s keys to release numerous other juveniles from their cells. While outside of their cells, the juveniles assaulted two other workers and several other juveniles who were also detained at AYDC. The testimony at trial established that Moore actively participated in assaults against at least two of the juveniles.
The jury also heard proof that Moore and others sexually abused a 17-year-old girl who was also detained at AYDC. The girl testified that she had been at AYDC for a few weeks after being charged with running away from her home in southern Kentucky. Moore and others led the girl into a cell where she was repeatedly raped and sodomized. Surveillance video captured the girl being led into the cell and also showed several of the assaults that occurred during the riot – including the assaults on the workers at the facility and at least two assaults that Moore participated in. The case was investigated by the Kentucky State Police with assistance from the Columbia Police Department, the Adair County Sheriff’s Department, and other state and local agencies. KSP Detective Zach Scott led the investigation into the riot and physical assaults that occurred inside the facility. KSP Detective Josh Dicken was the lead investigator regarding the sexual crimes committed against the 17-year-old girl.
Under Kentucky law, Moore will be required to serve twenty (20) years in prison before being eligible for parole. Additionally, Moore will be required to complete a sex offender treatment program and will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Brian Wright prosecuted the case. After the trial, Wright thanked Det. Scott and Det. Dicken for their efforts investigating the case – including collaborating with numerous other law enforcement agencies that assisted in restoring order following the riot and assisted with the investigation of the crimes committed inside the facility. Wright also thanked the members of the jury for their attention during the trial and for ensuring that justice was served in this case. Wright noted that the trial involved testimony that was at times difficult to listen to because of the nature of the crimes. Wright added, “protecting the children in this community is one of the top priorities of my office. I will continue to aggressively prosecute anyone who physically or sexually abuses another person in this county.”
Demaurion Moore, who was represented at trial by attorney Amanda Bear from Lexington, will appear for final sentencing on May 30, 2025. Judge Samuel Todd Spalding from Marion County was appointed as special judge in the case and presided over the trial.
(Brian Wright, Commonwealth’s Attorney – 29th Judicial Circuit)