On Tuesday, December 02, 2025, Shawn McKinney, 44, of McKee, KY, was scheduled to appear before Judge Oscar Gayle House in Circuit Court for a final pretrial conference in Case #25-CR-00021. A grand Jury indicted Shawn McKinney and charged him with rape, 1st degree, unlawful imprisonment, 1st degree, serving alcoholic beverages to minors, 1st offense, and assault, 2nd degree (domestic violence).
At the time of his arrest, Jackson County Sheriff Daniel Isaacs reported that in a joint effort between the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Kentucky State Police on Sunday, January 5th, 2025, Shawn McKinney of McKee, KY, was arrested on several felony offenses.
The arrest stemmed from a call for service at a residence in the area of Turkey Foot Road in McKee, KY. The initial complaint call came from a friend of the alleged victim. According to uniform citation #EU56555, the victim messaged her friend saying that she was being held hostage in her home by Shawn McKinney, 43, of McKee, KY. The victim texted her friend that she was locked in the basement and unable to get out.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputies Andrew Brewer, Logan Hacker, and Chris Baldwin, along with Kentucky State Police Post 7 Trooper Tanner Johnson, quickly responded to the residence. Trooper Johnson knocked on the front door, advising it was the State Police and someone should come to the door. However, there was no answer. Trooper Johnson then went to the backside of the residence and located the basement door. Deputy Chris Baldwin was already speaking with the female through the door, and she could not get out. She told the officers that the door was locked. Trooper Johnson forced the door open, and Deputy Baldwin took the victim to a cruiser.
The victim advised that McKinney was upstairs and was “high.” Trooper Johnson went to the top of the stairs and observed McKinney in the living room. The uniform citation states that McKinney was completely naked and swaying side to side. Trooper Johnson advised McKinney to put his hands over his head, but McKinney seemed unable to understand the command. Trooper Johnson then advised McKinney to lie down on the ground with his hands behind his back and he complied. McKinney was arrested and taken to Trooper Johnson’s cruiser.
Trooper Johnson spoke with the alleged victim, who stated that she and McKinney were previously in a relationship. She stated that they recently began talking again, and McKinney needed a ride to McKee the previous day (January 4th). She said that he was supposed to return to his house once she gave him the ride, but he requested to go to hers. She drove home, and once there, she said he forced himself inside the house. The victim told Trooper Johnson that she believed McKinney was high and he forced her to take something. She said she was unable to recall several hours of time. Afterward, she stated that he forced her into her bedroom and struck her with his hand. At that point, she alleged McKinney forcibly raped her several times.
The victim said the only way she could think of to get away was to go into the basement. She stated that McKinney had said something about being afraid of her basement, so she hid there for several hours and started texting people for help.
The victim was treated by EMS and taken to St. Joseph Hospital for additional evaluation.
Thanks to the partnership and cooperative action of the Kentucky State Police and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the victim was safely removed from the residence and McKinney was apprehended in less than 10 minutes.
Uniform Citation #EU56555 also reports that Shawn McKinney is a convicted sex offender. The citation reports that McKinney is currently compliant with the Sex Offender Registry.
At an earlier pretrial conference, Judge House scheduled the final pretrial conference for December 02, 2025. A trial by jury was also scheduled for February 10, 2026.
As in all cases at this stage of adjudication, the charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until provided due process and determined to be guilty by the court.
