A 31-year-old woman is facing serious criminal charges after a grand jury returned an indictment involving allegations of sexual abuse against a child younger than 12.
Lauren Winans, of Bardstown, Kentucky, was arrested on Thursday, October 22. The charges include first-degree sodomy and incest, based on allegations outlined in court documents.
According to the indictment, the alleged incidents took place between January 1 and November 20, 2022. Prosecutors accuse Winans of sexually abusing a child identified in court records by the initials C.G.W.
The indictment also alleges that Winans engaged in sexual conduct involving a family member under the age of 12. Authorities have not clarified whether this individual is the same child referenced in the other allegations, and the exact family relationship has not been publicly established.
A Nelson County grand jury returned the indictment on Wednesday, one day before her arrest. The case is now moving through the legal process as the allegations are addressed in court.
Nelson County Jailer Justin Hall confirmed that Winans remained in custody because she had not posted bail, which was set at $250,000, according to the report.
Winans is scheduled to be arraigned on November 5. Information about her legal representation was not immediately available at the time of the report.
If convicted of the most serious charge, first-degree sodomy, she could face up to life in prison.
The allegations have not been proven in court, and the case remains subject to the legal process.