Indictments

Local News

November 30, 2007

Local News

Anonymous The Commonwealth Journal Fri Nov 30, 2007, 10:06 AM EST

The Indictment of a person by a grand jury is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty or otherwise pleads guilty.

Chad J. Neal, 53, #322 Comfort Inn, Somerset, on or about March 29, 2007, in Pulaski County committed the offense of trafficking in a controlled substance in or near a school by selling marijuana to a confidential informant within 1,000 yards of a school.

Consuelo Sharlene Sweeney, 35, 285 Incline Road, Burnside, on or about Aug. 14, 2007, in Pulaski County committed the offenses of burglary, first degree, by entering or remaining unlawfully in a dwelling belonging to Arlie Owens with the intent to commit a crime and while effecting entry or while in the building or immediate flight therefrom was armed with a firearm; and theft by unlawful taking by taking property belonging to Owens of a value over $300.

Michael W. Couch, 26, London, Ky., on or about Feb. 21, 2007, in Pulaski County committed the offense of criminal possession of a forged instrument, second degree, by possessing forged checks-instruments in the amount of $546.72 and $660.99 drawn on Somerset National Bank of Somerset.

Mark Andrew Alban, 36, 669 Harmond Road, Somerset, on or about July 18, 2007, in Pulaski County committed the offense of burglary, second degree, by entering or remaining unlawfully in a dwelling belonging to Christopher Creech with the intent to commit a crime.

Clinton Justin Epperson, 26, 20 Beech Grove Road, Science Hill, on or about July 18, 2007, in Pulaski County committed the offenses of burglary, third degree, by entering or remaining unlawfully in a building belonging to James Pitman with the intent to commit a crime; theft by unlawful taking by taking property belonging to Pitman of a value over $300; and unlawful transaction with a minor, second degree, by knowingly inducing, assisting or causing two minors to engage in burglary of a building and theft of property belonging to Pitman of a value over $300.

Ernest Bishop, 64, 601 North Madison St., Apt. 3C, Fortville, Ind., on or about May 2004 through March 2007 in Pulaski County committed the offense of welfare fraud by failing to report or disclose change or changes of factors affecting his eligibility for benefits to the Department of Health and Family Services of a value over $100.

Kristie Meece, 35, 114 Carter St., Somerset, on or about December 2004 through July 2007 in Pulaski County committed the offense of welfare fraud by failing to report or disclose change or changes of factors affecting her eligibility for benefit to the Department of Health and Families Services of a value over $100.

Randell Brian Angel, 417 East Mt. Vernon St., Somerset, on or about March 27, 2007, in Pulaski County committed the offense of trafficking in a controlled substance, second degree, first offense, by unlawfully trafficking in a controlled substance by selling Hydrocodone, a scheduled III controlled substance, to a confidential informant.

James W. Shouse, 54, 66 Harvey St., Nancy, on or about January 2005 through January 2006 in Pulaski County committed the offense of welfare fraud, by failing to report or disclose change or changes of factors affecting eligibility for benefits to the Department of Health and Families Services of a value over $100.

Tommy L. Adkins, 43, 2927 D. Ave., New Castle, Ind., on or about Jan. 1, 2001, through Aug. 31, 2007, committed the offense of flagrant nonsupport by failing to provide for minor child-children in the amount of $9,120.32.

Donald N. Depew, 29, 4545 Hwy. 1778, Hustonville, Ky., on or about Feb. 1, 2003, through July 31, 2007, committed the offense of flagrant nonsupport by failing to provide for minor child-children in the amount of $21,276.

Michael D. Nevels, 26, 189 Rolling Cliff Drive, Bronston, on or about April 9, 2002, through Aug. 31, 2007, committed the offense of flagrant nonsupport by failing to provide for minor child-children in the amount of $5,739.74.

Randy D. Scalf, 43, 18301 U.S. 41 South, Spring Hill, Fla., on or about April 1, 2003, through July 31, 2007, committed the offense of flagrant nonsupport by failing to provide for minor child-children in the amount of $4,132.83.

Randy D. Scalf, 43, 18301 U.S. 41 South, Spring Hill, Fla., on or about Nov. 1, 2001, through July 31, 2007, committed the offense of flagrant nonsupport by failing to provide for minor child-children in the amount of $5,900.33.

Lizzie Joe Lewis, 35, 62 Circle Drive, Burnside, and Michael L. Lewis, 37, 62 Circle Drive, Burnside, on or about March 28, 2007, in Pulaski County, Lizzie J. Lewis committed the offense of trafficking in a controlled substance, second degree, first offense, by unlawfully trafficking in a controlled substance by selling Hydrocodone, a scheduled III controlled substance, to a confidential informant; and Michael L. Lewis committed the offense of complicity to trafficking in a controlled substance, second degree, first offense, by counseling, promoting, planning or aiding Lizzie J. Lewis in the trafficking of a controlled substance.

Jason Lewis, 24, 150 West Antioch, Burnside, on or about April 13, 2007, in Pulaski County committed the offenses of trafficking in a controlled substance, second degree, first offense, by unlawfully trafficking in a controlled substance by selling Hydrocodone, a scheduled III controlled substance, to a confidential informant; and trafficking in a controlled substance, third degree, first offense, by unlawfully trafficking in a controlled substance by selling-transferring Alprazolam, a scheduled IV controlled substance, to a confidential informant.

Wanda Lou Trotter, 36, 150 West Antioch St., Burnside, on or about March 30, 2007, in Pulaski County committed the offenses of trafficking in a controlled substance, second degree, first offense, by unlawfully trafficking in a controlled substance by selling Hydrocodone, a scheduled III controlled substance, to a confidential informant; and persistent felony offender, second degree, by being convicted of at least one prior felony.

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Pulaski carries Girdler to win

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.

Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.

Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.

That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.

However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.

In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.

Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.

“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”

Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”

As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.

However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.

“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.

Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.

Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.

Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”

Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”

Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.

Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.

“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.

“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.”

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