HARDINSBURG (07/23/25) — A man sent to prison in 2009 on charges of rape and attempted murder is set to be released from prison next month. Ernest Pine pleaded guilty in Breckinridge Circuit Court to rape, sodomy, attempted murder, burglary, second-degree assault and criminal mischief charges in exchange for a 20-year prison sentence. The case involved an attack of a neighbor in August of 2008. Pine, now 75 years old, has served 17 years of the sentence but is scheduled for release on August 19th. The victim’s spouse told Louisville television station WAVE they received a victim’s notification alert, saying the release was for good behavior. During an appearance in Circuit Court on Wednesday, Pine was ordered to stay away from the victim and her family. Correction records indicate Pine is lodged at the Northpoint Training Center in Mercer County.
