Inset: Moises May in court (WDRB/YouTube). Background: Bodycam footage of police discovering Jonna Wilson chained to the floor (Louisville Metropolitan Police Department).
A Kentucky man who was found guilty of chaining up his girlfriend inside of her own house — telling police she did it to herself because she couldn”t stop cheating on him — was sentenced to 30 years behind bars on Wednesday, according to a report.
Moises May, of Louisville, was convicted in May for chaining up the mother of his daughter, Jonna Wilson, at a home in Louisville’s Park Hill neighborhood in 2023, according to local Fox affiliate WDRB. A sentence of 35 years was recommended by prosecutors, but he was given 30 and ordered to serve at least 20% of the sentence, WDRB reports.
May was found guilty by a jury of his peers, marking the second time that a defendant in Kentucky has been convicted by a jury of human trafficking and sentenced under the state’s newly amended human trafficking criminal statute, which saw the definitions and penalties for human trafficking broadened last year.
In addition to human trafficking, May was also found guilty of kidnapping, intimidating a participant in the legal process, terroristic threatening, and harassment.
“This was a deeply emotional case for all involved, and I commend the diligent and hard work of our Special Victims Unit prosecutors in getting justice for the victim,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerina D. Whethers said in a statement announcing May’s conviction, according to local ABC affiliate WHAS.
“Human trafficking will never have a place in our community,” Whethers said. “This outcome sends a strong message that we will stand up against these despicable acts.”
May, who is from Louisville, allegedly tried claiming that Wilson chained herself up before cops found her at a home in Park Hill. A local detective testified at May’s trial about there being no signs or evidence of self-imprisonment, per local Fox affiliate WDRB.
“It didn’t seem like it was something she did to herself,” the detective recounted.
May was said to have cut Wilson’s hair with a machete, telling police she “lost a bet” with him over a game of checkers. He allegedly changed his story after being interviewed and later claimed it was cut off because Wilson wanted to dye her hair and May wouldn’t help, so she asked that he chop it instead.
May was also accused of trafficking Wilson and forcing her to have sex with men for money. He was said to have done this at least five times.
After May’s arrest, police released disturbing body camera footage of officers finding Wilson chained to the floor of a second-story bedroom and rescuing her.
“Thank you so much,” Wilson can be heard saying on video.
