Indictments

Local News

December 5, 2008

Local News

Anonymous The Commonwealth Journal Fri Dec 05, 2008, 04:08 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.

Ronald Shawn Turner, 32, 641 Dark Hollow Road, Somerset, on or about Aug. 6, 2008, in Pulaski County committed the offenses of possession of a controlled substance, first degree, second offense, by possessing methadone, a scheduled II controlled substance, after having been convicted of at least one prior offense, and theft by unlawful taking by taking property belonging to Krogers of Somerset of a value under $300.

Terry Coffey, 29, 4590 Mark Welborn Road, Somerset, on or about Aug. 3, 2008, in Pulaski County committed the offense of wanton endangerment, first degree, six counts, by shooting a firearm towards or in the direction of several people thereby wantonly engaging in conduct which created a danger of death or serious physical injury manifesting danger of death or physical injury to the value of human life.

Gary Lee Hansford, 32, 450 Popular Estates #1, Somerset, and Robert Aaron Hammonds, 34, 450 Popular Estates #2, Somerset, on or about Oct. 15, 2008, in Pulaski County Hansford committed the offense of robbery, first degree, by threatening or using physical force or harm on a person while armed with a firearm in the course of committing a theft at Lakeway Shell Station; Hammonds committed the offense of complicity to robbery, first degree, by aiding Hansford in the robbery of Lakeway Shell Station; and Hansford and Hammonds committed the offense of possession of a hand gun by convicted felons, by being in possession of a hand gun after having been previously convicted of a felony.

Michael D. Nevels, 27, 1490 Jacksboro Road, Bronston, and Keith Taylor, 115 Rolling Clift Drive, Bronston, on or about June 3, 2008, in Pulaski County committed the offense of trafficking in a controlled substance, second degree, first offense, by possessing, selling, distributing or transferring Hydrocodone, a scheduled III controlled substance.

Ginger L. Stigall, 24, 44 White Oak Circle, G-3, Somerset, on or about Aug. 13, 2008, committed the offense of criminal possession of a forged instrument, second degree, by possessing a forged check-instrument in the amount of $175 drawn on First and Farmers Bank of Somerset; on or about Aug. 12, 2008, criminal possession of a forged instrument, second degree, by possessing a forged check-instrument in the amount of $150 drawn on First and Farmers Bank of Somerset; and on or about Aug. 9, 2008, criminal possession of a forged instrument, second degree, by possessing a forged check-instrument in the amount of $75 drawn on First and Farmers Bank of Somerset.

Candace S. Vanhook, 42, 1106 East Mt. Vernon St., Somerset, on or about January 2008 through August 2008 in Pulaski County committed the offense of theft by unlawful taking by taking property belonging to Cumberland Sea Ray of a value over $300.

Christopher Sean Mullins, 33, Mt. Villa Apt. No. 29, Mt. Vernon, and Lavina M. Debord, 28, Mt. Villa Apt. No. 29, Mt. Vernon, on or about June 2008 through July 2008 in Pulaski County committed the offense of theft by unlawful taking by taking property belonging to Linda Todd of a value over $300.

Michael Dees, 33, 31 Meece Court, Somerset, on or about June 1, 2005, through Sept. 30, 2008, in Pulaski County committed the offense of flagrant nonsupport by failing to provide for minor child-children in the amount of $5,461.91.

Bobby Dirk Strunk, 31, 305 Garner School Road, Somerset, on or about September 2008 in Pulaski County committed the offense of fraudulent use of a credit-debit card by using Carolyn Collins’ credit-debit card account to obtain goods without her consent of a value over $100 in a six-month period.

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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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