LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — Though set for a preliminary hearing later this month, the mother who allegedly traded her infant son for a truck could be indicted by a grand jury before that hearing date.

Heather Ann Kaminsky appeared in Laurel District Court on Tuesday to answer charges of human trafficking with a victim under age 18. However, that charge was amended to selling or purchasing a child for adoption.

Laurel County Attorney J. L. Albright said the amended charge was more appropriate for this particular case, although it is still a Class D felony just as the other charge.

“The human trafficking statute is more for when someone sells children for sex,” Albright said. “We felt in this case the other statute was more appropriate and if there is an indictment, it will be on that statute.”

Kaminsky is accused of trading her newborn child to a Corbin couple — Jeremy and Jamiee Brown — in exchange for a pickup. Kaminsky, who is allegedly childhood friends with the couple, fled Florida to avoid Social Services taking custody of her then-unborn child. She reportedly has two other children already in their custody.

The situation came to light on July 12 when Laurel County Sheriff’s officials launched an investigation into the incident. Jeremy and Jamiee Brown were arrested after detectives determined they had indeed given Kaminsky a 1999 Dodge pickup in exchange for keeping her son. The Browns have three other children, police officials say, and the now 6-month-old child was reportedly “well cared for” and “healthy.”

Jamiee Brown told police her husband Jeremy was the biological father of the child — a result of an extra-martial affair between Brown and Kaminsky. However, Kaminsky’s mother told police her daughter was impregnated in  Florida and only came to Kentucky in early January when she was nine months pregnant with the child.

In a television interview, Kaminsky stated Jeremy Brown is listed on the child’s birth certificate as the father. However, neither Albright nor local sheriff’s officials involved with the case have seen said document.

“We have no knowledge of a birth certificate,” Albright said.

In addition to the baby trade charge, Kaminsky is also accused of using two different forms of identification in order to buy 17.28 grams of cold tablets containing pseudoephedrine, the key ingredient used to manufacture methamphetamine. The arrest warrant filed by Detective Jason Back states Kaminsky used the differing identifications “to avoid being blocked after purchasing 9 grams which is the legal limit for a 30-day period.”

The case against Kaminsky and the Browns will be presented to the August session of a Laurel grand jury on July 14. Indictments will be announced on Friday, Aug. 20.



njohnson@sentinel-echo.com