Local News
Russell County men plead guilty to robbery
Somerset — Two Russell County men pleaded guilty in Pulaski Circuit Court this week to robbing a southern Pulaski County store.
Phillip Edward Lawless, 21, and Andrew Travis Hosack, 21, both of Russell Springs, appeared before Pulaski Circuit Judge Jeffrey T. Burdette Friday and entered guilty pleas in connection with the July 2009 robbery of the Dollar General store in Burnside, according to information from Commonwealth Attorney Eddy F. Montgomery.
Both defendants pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary, according to Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney David L. Dalton.
Authorities responded to a report of a burglary in progress at the Burnside Dollar General on July 26 at around 8:45 a.m.
The victim told police that two white males — later identified as Lawless and Hosack — entered the store armed with a firearm and a knife and took what Burnside police called “a substantial amount of money” from employees there.
The money stolen amounted to $2,600 in cash, and, according to Dalton, Lawless and Hosack “pointed the store manager to the exact safe where the money was located ...”
A third suspect was also identified early in the investigation.
Samantha Lynne Warriner, 24, also of Russell Springs, was identified as an employee or former employee of the store, and according to Burnside police, she is Lawless’ sister and, at least at the time of the incident, was Hosack’s girlfriend.
Police “determined that the robbers drove up in a maroon van, which was the same van that had dropped off an employee (Warriner) ... just minutes before the robbery,” according to Dalton.
During court on Friday Dalton recommended 20 years in prison for Lawless and Hosack. In addition to that sentence, Burdette imposed 360 days of contempt jail time on Hosack “for abusive and disruptive behavior during court,” according to Dalton.
Warriner pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery and complicity to second-degree burglary in connection with the incident.
Dalton said she may receive a 12 year probated sentence if no conditions are broken and all appearances to court are made.
The Burnside Police Department was assisted in the investigation by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department.
Burdette set final sentencing for January 21, 2010.
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LCADTF could lose big bucks
Lake Cumberland Area Drug Task Force officials estimate that the City of Somerset’s lack of involvement in the task force could lead to a loss of some $250,000 in federal funding per year — a chunk which could easily force the task force to close its doors.
David Keller, deputy director of Appalachia HIDTA, a major funding source for the local drug task force and the reason why federal and state law enforcement officers are able to be a part of the agency, says the agency’s current situation is more serious than many people realize.
Keller says HIDTA has made a “huge investment” in the LCADTF, but that folks shouldn’t get too comfortable with the agency’s ability to obtain grant money at the federal or state level.
“This is not entitlement money. ... Our grant is performance driven, and it’s sought after by competitive forces,” Keller said. “If this agency doesn’t produce, they stand a risk of not having the task force funded. That money will go someplace else — to another county that would love to have it.” -
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Less than a decade ago, Pleasant Hill was a pastoral community. Modern homes were tucked among shaded lawns. Cattle grazed peacefully at day and fireflies blinked in darkness. The area was served by a friendly little road called Clifty.
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