London man charged with kidnapping after earlier meth allegation

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A London man is facing multiple violent felony charges after allegedly kidnapping a woman Thursday, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Department.

Shawn Asher, 38, was arrested after authorities received a report that he kidnapped a woman at the 8000 block of Kentucky Highway 1232 in Corbin. According to investigators, Asher allegedly broke into the victim's home and waited for her to return. When she arrived, an argument ensued and Asher allegedly forced the victim into the passenger seat of her Jeep Grand Cherokee, ordering her to leave her cell phone behind.

Around 6 p.m. Thursday, the Knox County Sheriff's Department, Barbourville Police Department, and the U.S. Marshal's Service Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force received a tip that Asher was traveling southbound on Kentucky Highway 11 in Barbourville with the victim in the vehicle. Authorities located the Jeep and conducted a traffic stop, taking Asher into custody without incident. The victim was found with minor physical injuries.

This arrest comes months after Asher allegedly spiked the same victim's coffee with methamphetamine on Christmas Day. The victim was at home watching her child open Christmas presents when Asher allegedly contaminated her drink and claimed he planted needles in her vehicle. Blood work conducted the following day at a hospital confirmed the victim tested positive for methamphetamine. In February, Asher was charged with second-degree assault in connection with that incident but was released on bond shortly after.

Asher now faces multiple charges including burglary in the second degree, assault in the fourth degree, kidnapping of an adult, unlawful imprisonment in the second degree, violation of an emergency protective or domestic violence order, and strangulation in the second degree. He is being held at the Knox County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond.