A Union County judge has upheld Kentucky's law banning child sex dolls and computer-generated child sexual abuse material, rejecting a constitutional challenge from a Sturgis man convicted on 16 criminal counts. The ruling clears the way for Kenneth Moore's convictions to stand, with a jury recommending a 20-year prison sentence and lifetime registration as a sex offender.
According to WKYT, Moore was arrested in 2025 after authorities found three child sex dolls along with dozens of videos and images. Reports differ on Moore's age at the time of the case — WKYT identified him as 51, while the Kentucky Lantern reported he was 50 when charged in August 2025. Moore challenged the law on the grounds that it violated his constitutional rights, but the judge ruled in favor of the state this week, according to the station's report.
Jury Convicts Moore on 16 Counts
A jury found Moore guilty of five counts of promoting a sexual performance by a minor under 16, one count of trafficking a child sex doll, and 10 counts of possessing or viewing matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor, according to WDRB. Jurors recommended a 20-year prison sentence and that Moore register as a sex offender, the station reported. Moore is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 11, per the same account.
The law at the center of the case, House Bill 207, was passed by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2024 and made it illegal to possess child sex dolls or computer-generated child sexual abuse material, per the article from the seed publisher. WDRB notes that the legislation, signed into law by Gov. Andy Beshear, addressed both possession of the dolls and computer-generated material involving identifiable children.
Judge Rules Dolls Are Not Protected Speech
Judge Daniel M. Heady ruled that child sex dolls are not a form of protected speech or expression, finding instead that they are sexual devices used for non-expressive conduct, according to the Kentucky Lantern. Kentucky's statute defines a child sex doll as an anatomically correct or precise doll, mannequin or robot — consisting of an entire body, pelvis or other body part — with features resembling those of a minor and intended for sexual acts, according to Kentucky Legislature, KRS 531.010. The 2024 House Bill 207 act uses substantially the same definition in its legislative text.
The Kentucky Attorney General's office filed a brief defending the law, WKYT reported. Attorney General Russell Coleman said the ruling gives law enforcement new tools to protect children, according to the station.
A Similar Case in Kenton County
Moore's case is not the only one in Kentucky to involve a child sex doll in recent memory. The Kentucky Court of Appeals separately upheld the conviction of a Kenton County man, Kevin Master, on 20 felony counts of possessing child sexual exploitation material, along with his 10-year prison sentence, according to Kentucky Today. That case began after investigators discovered a child sex doll being mailed to Master's address and uncovered additional evidence; Master later pleaded guilty to all 20 counts. The appeals court upheld the legality of the investigation, prosecution and conviction after Master challenged whether possession of the doll justified a search of his electronic devices, Kentucky Today reported.
Moore's sentencing is set for Jan. 11, when a judge will decide whether to follow the jury's recommendation of a 20-year prison term and lifetime sex-offender registration.
