A 32-year-old Glasgow man has been indicted on a third-degree rape charge involving a minor under 16, with a Barren County grand jury sending the case to circuit court. LaJuan Smith was arrested and later released from the Barren County Detention Center on a $5,000 cash bond, according to jail records cited in the case.
As reported by WCLU Radio, Smith is scheduled to make his initial appearance in Barren Circuit Court on October 12 at 10 a.m. Smith's indictment was filed in circuit court, and the station's report identifies a state police detective as a witness in Smith's case. According to WNKY, the indictment alleges Smith engaged in sexual contact with a victim under 16 years old on December 31, 2024, in Barren County.
What the Charge Means Under Kentucky Law
Under Kentucky Revised Statute 510.060, a person is guilty of third-degree rape when they are 21 or older and have sexual intercourse with a victim younger than 16, according to the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. The offense is classified as a Class D felony, the lowest felony tier in the state's criminal code, carrying a sentencing range of one to five years in prison under KRS 532.060 if there is a conviction, per the Legislative Research Commission's statutory text.
A conviction would also carry legal consequences under Kentucky law, according to True Guarnieri Ayer, LLP. Separately, state law includes residency restrictions for people on the sex offender registry, according to Probation Information Network, which notes those residency limits were enacted and later expanded by the Kentucky General Assembly. Authorities have not released further case details, and the charge remains an allegation that has not been proven in court.
Smith's Ties to Local Youth Programs
Smith previously worked for the Boys & Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County for a short period ending in 2022, WNKY reports. The club this month marked its 20th anniversary and serves local youth ages 5 to 18, per the nonprofit's history detailed by Barrenside.
Athletic records maintained by the KHSAA show Smith was himself a Glasgow High student-athlete years earlier, competing on the Scotties varsity football team in 2011.
Case Moves to Circuit Court
With the grand jury's indictment secured, Smith's case now proceeds to Barren Circuit Court, where his October 12 appearance will mark the next formal step in the prosecution. Authorities have not released additional details about the allegations, and WNKY reports it will provide further updates as they become available.
