Author Archive for H-L Justice TeamPage 2 of 47

Three students charged in fire at Nicholas Co. teacher’s house

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H-L Justice Team
on March 19, 2009
in Uncategorized
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By Greg Kocher - gkocher1@herald-leader.com

Three teenagers have been charged in connection with a fire that gutted the house of Nicholas County High School teacher early Thursday.

“It was a childhood prank that went bad,” said Nicholas County Sheriff Dick Garrett.

Garrett Young, 18, of Mount Olivet, was charged with third-degree arson and criminal mischief, Kentucky State Police said. Both charges are felonies punishable by one to five years in prison.

Jordan Stewart, 18, of Carlisle, was charged with one count of criminal trespass, a violation punishable by a fine.
Garrett said a 17-year-old boy was charged with criminal trespass, a misdemeanor.

A juvenile female who was at the scene but who did not get out of a vehicle was not charged, Garrett said.
Garrett said the teens are students at the high school.

Hank Bond, spokesman for Nicholas County Schools, said the district has been made aware of the situation and will cooperate with law enforcement. Bond said he could not comment on any further action that might or might not be taken.

Young and Stewart, who was issued a citation, could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.

Nicholas County Fire Chief Mark Hughes said a kind of fireworks known as a “cake” was put on the porch of Dreama Griffith’s house on Walnut Grove Road, near the Nicholas-Bourbon county line.

Cake fireworks are more complex than smaller fireworks such as Roman candles and bottle rockets.

Garrett was called to the house shortly after 11 p.m. Wednesday. The fireworks had damaged the soffit on the porch, but it didn’t appear to be burning or smoking, Garrett said.

But then firefighters were called to the house shortly after 2:30 a.m. Thursday, Hughes said. By that time, the fire was “fully involved,” he said.

Apparently sparks from the earlier fireworks explosion had gone through the eaves of the roof and into the attic, where insulation smoldered and caused the fire to spread, Hughes said. “All that’s left are the brick walls,” Hughes said.

Griffith, who teaches English at the high school, got out of the house uninjured. Firefighters were able to rescue her two cats that were hiding beneath a bed, Hughes said.

Garrett said Griffith is staying with her parents.

Young was released from the Montgomery County jail on a $5,000 full cash bond. He is scheduled to appear in court April 8.

Bond and court information for Stewart was not immediately available Thursday.

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Nicholasville men charged in arson

Published
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H-L Justice Team
on March 19, 2009
in Jessamine County
. 5 Comments
By Greg Kocher - gkocher1@herald-leader.com

NICHOLASVILLE — Two men were charged Wednesday night with arson in connection with the Feb. 14 fire that destroyed a vacant apartment building, Nicholasville police said.

The fire was intentionally set by Thomas Aaron Gilbert, 29, of Nicholasville, police said in a release. Police said the owner of the building, Terry Rhodes Carter, 64, of Nicholasville had agreed that Gilbert would share a portion of the insurance money that Carter stood to gain by having the building burned.

Carter was charged with complicity to second-degree arson, a felony punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison. Gilbert was charged with third-degree arson, a felony punishable by one to five years in prison.

No one was hurt in the blaze but the fire was suspicious to investigators because the building had no electricity. The12-unit building at 306 Edgewood Drive in Nicholasville had been recently condemned by authorities and its occupants had been ordered to vacate. The building was a total loss, and has since been demolished.

Nicholasville police said the arrests were the result of a tip given by a person in response to a reward for information offered by the insurance company. The tip confirmed critical information for investigators with the Nicholasville Arson Task Force.

Both men were lodged in the Jessamine County jail.

Greg Kocher covers Jessamine County for the Herald-Leader. Reach him in the Nicholasville bureau at (859) 885-5775.

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Attorney’s illness causes concern, delays in fen-phen case

Published
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H-L Justice Team
on March 17, 2009
in U.S. District Court
. 5 Comments
By Brandon Ortiz - bortiz@herald-leader.com

Shirley Cunningham Jr. (left), William Gallion (right)

Shirley Cunningham Jr. (left), William Gallion (right)

FRANKFORT — The retrial of two former lawyers accused of taking millions of dollars from their clients has been postponed until Thursday morning because a defense attorney is ill.

Georgia lawyer O. Hale Almand, who represents William Gallion, became dizzy about 4 p.m. Monday in U.S. District Court. Testimony ended early for the day.

It was the third time the trial has been postponed due to Almand’s health. The trial was delayed for a week the first week in March.

Almand’s health triggered concerns that U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves might have to declare a second mistrial. But Almand told a lawyer who is temporarily representing Gallion that he just needs rest and expects to be ready for trial Thursday.

Almand has an ear infection that affects his balance, Reeves said.

Cunningham and Gallion are accused of taking $94 million that should gone to former fen-phen diet-drug users in the 2001 settlement of a $200 million lawsuit.

Federal prosecutors and Cunningham’s lawyer, Stephen Dobson, told Reeves they want to avoid a mistrial. The judge said he would research whether he can declare a mistrial for Gallion but continue the case for Cunningham.

Coffey was ordered to report back on Almand’s condition by Wednesday afternoon. Reeves was to conduct a hearing at 4 p.m. if Almand is not feeling better.

Cunningham and Gallion’s first trial resulted in a mistrial after jurors could not reach a verdict. A third lawyer, Melbourne Mills Jr., was acquitted.

Cunningham and Gallion are charged with wire fraud and conspiracy.

Prosecutors were questioning their final witness on Monday. The former lawyers are expected to present their case after the last witness concludes his testimony.

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Debt-scam calls rife in Kentucky

Published
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H-L Justice Team
on March 17, 2009
in Uncategorized
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Herald-Leader Staff Report

The state attorney general’s office announced Tuesday that there has been an increase in the number of complaints from victims of financial scams.

Attorney General Jack Conway said investigators within the Consumer Protection Division have been receiving several calls per day from consumers just wanting to report contacts from suspicious companies, according to a news release from Conway’s office.

“While more Kentuckians are unfortunately facing layoffs during the economic downturn, scam artists are working overtime to prey on people’s fears and trick debt-ridden consumers into paying money for bogus debt-relief services or non-existent government grants,” Conway said in the release.

The attorney general’s office said some bogus debt relief companies have left individuals messages, saying “it appears that you qualify for a $1,000 advance. If you call today, you will get first priority status.”

A staff member at the attorney general’s office called the 866 number and was greeted with profanity. The call was then escalated to a supervisor to process the request.

Conway’s office said the number appears to ring into an offshore boiler room. The supervisor indicated someone would call back to explain the program.

General Conway said in the release that “bogus calls are being reported to my office regularly.”

“Consumers report that they obtained information from the Internet on free government grants or stimulus payments, or received unsolicited telephone calls,” he said. “Consumers should not respond to the offers, nor should they complete online forms in order to qualify for the so-called ‘free grants.’”

Conway said “these could be efforts by con artists to steal credit card information, to make unauthorized charges, or to steal personal information to further victimize the consumer with identity theft.”

The attorney general implored consumers not to respond to these calls or other calls offering foreclosure relief.

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2 Ky. high school students arrested with guns

Published
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H-L Justice Team
on March 17, 2009
in Uncategorized
. 0 Comments

The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE — Jefferson County school officials say two high school students have been arrested after allegedly bringing guns to school.

A statement from spokeswoman Lauren Roberts says the separate incidents happened Tuesday morning at Valley High School in Louisville.

The statement says police arrested a senior, who allegedly had an unloaded gun, and a sophomore, who allegedly had a loaded gun.

The school was on heightened security, but has returned to normal operations.

School officials say a tip and quick response by the school staff stopped the incidents from escalating.

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Lexington man assaulted infant, police say

Published
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H-L Justice Team
on March 17, 2009
in Lexington police
. 6 Comments

A Lexington man has been charged with first-degree assault for allegedly injuring his 2½ -month-old daughter, police said.

David Allen Brumback

David Allen Brumback

David Allen Brumback, 19, was charged Monday night after an investigation that began Sunday.

Police were asked to investigate a report of an unresponsive infant at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital.

Investigators with the Crimes Against Children Unit and state Cabinet for Health and Family Services attempted to determine the origin of a head injury to the infant.

Brumback was charged based on interviews and medical findings, Lexington police said.

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5 arrested in Boyle Co. drug bust

Published
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H-L Justice Team
on March 17, 2009
in Uncategorized
. 2 Comments

Herald-Leader Staff Report

Police arrested five people and found two meth labs after searches Monday near Parksville and in Junction City in Boyle County.

Acting on a tip, deputies with the Boyle County Sheriff’s Office and Kentucky State Police executed search warrants at two homes on Baker Lane between Parksville and Mitchellsburg, about five miles west of Junction City. A working meth lab was found at each location.

The result of those searches led to a third search on Kentucky Avenue in Junction City, where police found processed methamphetamine.

Those arrested on various drug-related charges were James Hrapek, 39; Bronson Hartman, 32; Ronnie Hartman, 52; Jessie Divine, 20; and Tonya Divine, 30.

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2 wounded in Pendleton County shooting

Published
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H-L Justice Team
on March 17, 2009
in Uncategorized
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By Greg Kocher - gkocher1@herald-leader.com

Two young men were hospitalized after exchanging gunfire Monday night in Pendleton County, Kentucky State Police said.

Shortly after 8:30 p.m., state troopers and the Pendleton County Sheriff’s Department responded to a shooting on Maple Street in Falmouth.

The shooting was between an 18-year-old man from Union and a 19-year-old man from Falmouth, state police said. Police have not released the names of the two men.

The 19-year-old suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was taken by helicopter to University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington.

The 18-year-old was flown by helicopter to University Hospital in Cincinnati.

The shooting remains under investigation by state police.

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Man is shot in the chest after answering the door

Published
by
H-L Justice Team
on March 16, 2009
in Lexington police
. 0 Comments
By Karla Ward - kward1@herald-leader.com

A young man was shot in the chest in an apartment on Winburn Drive just after 4 p.m. Monday.

Someone knocked on the door of the man’s apartment at 1218 Winburn Drive, and when he opened the door, the man was shot, said Lexington Police Lt. Scott Blakely.

He said the man, whose identity was not immediately available, was taken to the University of Kentucky Hospital.

The victim’s brother was at home at the time of the shooting, but he was in another room and did not see what happened, Blakely said.

Police were talking to neighbors to try to get a description of a suspect, but they did not have anything to go on shortly after the shooting. Blakely said the investigation is “very preliminary.”

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Testimony: Murder suspect laughed as he shot Lexington Green victim

Published
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H-L Justice Team
on March 16, 2009
in Uncategorized
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By Brandon Ortiz - bortiz@herald-leader.com

Christopher Tolliver was on his knees suffering from a bullet wound to his abdomen when his ex-boyfriend fired a fatal gunshot to the back of his head, a detective testified Monday.

Witnesses at the Lexington Green parking lot on March 5 told police that the shooter laughed as he stood over Tolliver, Detective Todd Iddings said.

Iddings testified Monday during a preliminary hearing for Toby Lasure in Fayette District Court. Lasure, 31, is charged with murder, wanton endangerment, fleeing police and leaving the scene of an accident.

District Judge Joseph Bouvier found probable cause to send Lasure’s case to a grand jury for possible indictment.

Lasure spoke with police after the shooting and confessed several times. Lasure said Tollier told him “hurtful things” at Lexington Green, according to Iddings.

Friends and relatives of Tolliver have said he had broken up with Lasure, whom he met last year around Thanksgiving.

Iddings said Lasure called Tolliver earlier that day, asking him to work out with him at Fitness 19 on Boston Road. Lasure found Tolliver at the nearby Kroger, and Tolliver told him he wanted to talk at Lexington Green, Iddings said.

Police have said several people witnessed the shooting.

Iddings said two witnesses identified Lasure — through a photo lineup — as the shooter at Lexington Green.

Another police officer described the chase that led to a three-hour standoff at the Ridge Behavioral Health System. The Ridge is a psychiatric and chemical dependency treatment center at 3050 Rio Dosa Drive, near Man o’ War Boulevard.

Sgt. Pat McBride said Lasure whizzed in and out of “extremely heavy traffic.” He got up to 90 miles an hour on New Circle Road.

At the Ridge parking lot, Lasure held a gun to his head inside his car. Negotiators eventually persuaded him to surrender.

“Our only hope was to calm him down,” McBride said.

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