| Officer Don's Crime Prevention Tip |
Identity Theft
Identity theft is a serious crime. It occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.
Identity theft can destroy your credit and ruin your good name.
So here are some tips to safeguard your info:
Shred financial documents with personal info before you throw them away;
Protect your Social Security number -- give it out only if absolutely necessary;
Never click on unsolicited e-mails;
Don't use an obvious password. |
| American D.A. - LIVE
|
|
Ray Larson & Jack Pattie
Forensic Friday
Every other Friday 9 am
WVLK 590 AM |
| Subscribe To Our Mailing List |
 |
| Issue Archives |
Miss an Issue of
"A Message from Ray the D.A."?
Click here to go to our Archives Page | |
|
Welcome to our E-Newsletter
As you may know, this office believes that people who violate the law should suffer consequences. As a result, you can expect to receive news that reflects our position on law breakers and criminal justice issues. We hope you will find the information we provide interesting. Feel free to forward our E-Newsletter to others.
|
| Meet Lexington's Felony Prosecutors |
|
Ray Larson Says About Lou Anna Red Corn, "I Believe She is the Best Prosecutor in Kentucky"
 |
|
Lou Anna Red Corn and Secretary Shawn Smith | Lou Anna Red Corn serves as First Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney. She was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is a member of the Osage Indian Tribe. She attended the University of Kentucky and earned a Bachelor's degree in Journalism, as well as a law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law.
During her 21 years as a prosecutor, Lou Anna has successfully prosecuted several cases of interest throughout the Commonwealth, including Karen Murphy, a baby sitter who left two small children in a car while she shopped, one of whom died; Shane Ragland for the killing of UK football player Trent DiGuiro; and Leonard Nienaber, a Lexington Priest, for the sexual abuse of children.
Lou Anna has developed an expertise in the investigation and prosecution of cases related to the sexual abuse, exploitation and homicide of children. Her expertise makes her a frequent speaker around the Commonwealth. |
| Ray the D.A.'s Random Thoughts on the Criminal Justice System |
|
| Michael Turpin's Killer's Conviction Upheld, Yet Again
Karen Brown has been appealing her murder conviction for over 20 years, while Michael's family has twisted the winds of the never-ending appeal process.
 |
|
Michael Turpin | |
The body of Michael Turpin was found in a Lexington pond in February, 1986. He had been stabbed 19 times. Soon thereafter, Elizabeth Turpin, Karen Brown and Keith Bouchard were charged with his brutal murder. The trial of this case generated enormous community interest. | |
| |
"Then" |
"Now" |
|
Elizabeth Turpin
Sentenced to Life without Parole for 25 years |
|
|
|
Karen Brown
Sentenced to Life without Parole for 25 years |
|
|
|
Keith Bouchard
Sentenced to Life |
|
|
|
"Then" Photos Source: Lexington Herald-Leader | | In the appeal of Karen Brown's conviction for participating in the murder of Michael Turpin, the Monday morning quarterbacks at the Public Defender's Office said she wasn't represented "well enough" by her retained attorney, Julius Rather. She should have a new trial, they say. The Kentucky Supreme Court, in a unanimous Opinion written by Justice Will T. Scott, stopped that argument in its tracks.
The Opinion read, "Rather pursued a sound strategy by not having Brown testify, because he had successfully suppressed incriminating statements she had made to police." If she had then testified, the prosecutor would have then been able to introduce those incriminating statements against her at trial.
The public defenders just don't seem to get it - Karen Brown is GUILTY of her part in the murder of Michael Turpin. |
| Last on American D.A. - LIVE |
|
Million Dollar Embezzlement by Trusted Employee
 |
 |
 |
|
Elizabeth Davis, Prosecutor |
Andrea Mattingly Williams, Prosecutor |
Shirley Bachelor, Defendant | After working as a bookkeeper for the Glenn Auto Mall for 15 years, Shirley Bachelor began pocketing cash brought in by customers. Then she began forging company checks. Over four years, she stole over $1,000,000. She pled guilty to theft in both state and federal courts and is now serving five years in the penitentiary.
The Financial Crimes Task Force (FCTF) discussed and invesitgated the Bachelor case. The FCTF was created to combat financial crimes because of the complicated and time consuming nature of the cases. The FCTF brings federal, state and local prosecutors and investigators together to better coordinate investigations and to determine whether the cases should be prosecuted in either state or federal court.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorneys Elizabeth Davis and Andrea Mattingly Williams discussed both the Bachelor case as well as the Financial Crimes Task Force with Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Larson on American D.A. - LIVE on February 22, 2008.
(May take a few minutes to load). |
| Death Row Inmate of the Week |
|
|
|
|
Charles Bussell
35 at the time
Male, Black | This killer beat and strangled an elderly woman, Sue Lail, to death during a robbery at her home in Christian County in 1990. She had employed Bussell to perform odd jobs around her home.
Lail had multiple rib fractures, a dislocated vertebral disc, and a fractured Adam's apple. Her decomposed corpse had to be identified by dental x-rays.
Bussell was sentenced to Death on January 17, 1992. |
| Recent Court Case |
|
|
Mixture of Alcohol and Guns Leads to Arrest
 On October 3, 2007, Lexington police responded to a shots fired call at about 12:30 a.m. When the patrol officer arrived, they found the victim waiting at the end of the driveway. She told them that her boyfriend had been drinking and threatened to kill her. She said that she left him alone for about an hour, and when she returned to the residence he threatened her again. She heard a shot fired as she ran out of the home to make the 911 call.
The suspect was identified as James R. Salyer, 54. Police were able to convince him to exit the residence without incident. He was found to be carrying a .45 caliber handgun when he was arrested. Search of the home revealed numerous other firearms, a small quantity of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a bullet hole next to the hallway door of the bedroom where the victim was standing when the shot was fired. Expended shell casings were also found in the room.
Criminal records reveal no history for Salyer, who pled guilty to Wanton Endangerment, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon. He was sentenced to 12 months, probated for 2 years. Article written by Holly Kent, Intern
|
| Cops & Robbers News |
|
The Cease-Fire Project Proves We Can Accomplish More By Working Together Than Separately
 |
|
Cease-Fire staff, L to R, Erin
Hayne, Maureen Ratliff and
Brad Bryant | The Cease-Fire Project was created in 2001 in order to focus on armed and dangerous criminals who commit crimes with guns in our community. The group meets on the first and third Fridays of each month, and brings federal, state and local prosecutors and law enforcement together to determine whether a crime involving guns should be prosecuted in either federal or state court. Our goal is to seek the toughest penalty for these armed and dangerous criminals.
Since Cease-Fire began, we have achieved the following results:
| Cease-Fire Progress Report |
| 2001 through 2007 |
| |
| Criminal Cases Involving Guns |
1,106 |
| Federal Prosecutions |
206 |
| State Prosecutions |
968 |
| Conviction Rate |
97.97% |
| Federal Conviction Rate |
98.4% |
| State Conviction Rate |
97.1% |
| Average Sentence |
4.96 years |
| Federal Average Sentence |
4.71 years |
| State Average Sentence |
4.24 years |
The Cease-Fire Project has also recognized the increasing number of cases which involve gangs and guns. Gang violence has become part of the Cease-Fire Project's targeted activity. |
Fayette Circuit Court Sentencings
Friday, February 22, 2008 |
|
| 3rd Division - Judge James D. Ishmael, Jr. |
| LEA, Tabitha Ann
Age: 28
|
|
| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for 1st Degree Possession of a Controlled Substance, probated 5 years. Required to complete Drug Court. | |
| RILEY, Jason Dewayne
Age: 28
|
|
| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of 4th Degree Assault. In a separate case, sentenced to 15 years in prison for 2nd Degree Robbery. Cases are to run concurrent for a total of 15 years in prison. Sent to prison. | |
| WELFLEY, Ellen Joyce
Age: 53
|
|
| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Facilitation Trafficking in a Controlled Substance and 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Trafficking in a Simulated Substance, probated 2 years. | |
| 4th Division - Judge Pamela Goodwine | |
| IRBY, Adrian
Age: 37
|
|
| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for Theft By Unlawful Taking >$300. Sent to prison. | |
| KING, Regina Lynette
Age: 23
|
|
| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, conditionally discharged for 2 years. | |
| KUBINSKY, Dana Nicole
Age: 19
|
|
| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Theft By Unlawful Taking <$300, probated 2 years. Required to maintain full-time employment, undergo substance abuse counseling, obtain a GED, and complete 20 hours of community service per year. | |
| MCGUFFEY, Brandon R.
Age: 20
|
|
| Sentenced to 5 years in prison for 1st Degree Trafficking in a Controlled Substance, probated 5 years. Required to serve 6 months in jail and complete Drug Court. | |
|
| 7th Division - Judge Sheila R. Isaac | |
| CROUCHER, Daniel Graden
Age: 66
|
|
| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of 3rd Degree Trafficking in a Controlled Substance, probated 1 year. | |
| DAVIS, Talmage Shane
Age: 36
|
|
| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Criminal Attempt/Obtain a Controlled Substance by Fraud/False Statement to a Practitioner, probated 1 year. | |
|
| 8th Division - Judge Thomas L. Clark | |
| ANTONE, Gary T. Jr.
Age: 35
|
|
| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for Operating a Motor Vehicle Under/Influence of Alcohol/Drugs 4th Offense, 1 year in prison for Driving DUI Suspended License 3rd Offense, and 12 months in jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle 1st Offense. Sentences are to run concurrent for a total of 1 year in prison. Sent to prison. | |
| BELL, Jewell
Age: 41
|
|
| REPEAT OFFENDER. Sentenced to 1 year in prison enhanced to 5 years for 2nd Degree Forgery and status as a Persistent Felony Offender, probated 5 years. | |
| GIVEN, Jeffery Dean
Age: 50
|
|
| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for Driving DUI Suspended License 3rd Offense and 12 months in jail for Operating a Motor Vehicle Under/Influence of Alcohol/Drugs 3rd Offense, probated 5 years. Required to pay a $34 fine for speeding and license is to be suspended. | |
| HENSON, Debbie Sue
Age: 47
|
|
| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for Theft By Unlawful Taking > $300, conditionally discharged for 3 years. | |
| JOHNSON, Dexter Lamont
Age: 28
|
|
| REPEAT OFFENDER. Sentenced to 5 years in prison enhanced to 10 years for 1st Degree Trafficking in a Controlled Substance and status as a Persistent Felony Offender. Sent to prison. | |
| LEDFORD, Michael
Age: 25
|
|
| REPEAT OFFENDER. Sentenced to 1 year in prison enhanced to 5 years for the prosecution's amended charge of 2nd Degree Assault Under Extreme Emotional Disturbance and status as a Persistent Felony Offender. Required to pay restitution of $15,992.60. Sent to prison. | |
| SANFORD, Charles Byron
Age: 45
|
|
| REPEAT OFFENDER. Sentenced to 10 years in prison enhanced to 20 years for the prosecution's amended charge of 2nd Degree Robbery and status as a Persistent Felony Offender, 5 years in prison for another count of 2nd Degree Robbery, and 5 years in prison for an additional amended charge of 2nd Degree Robbery. Sentences are to run concurrent for a total of 20 years in prison. Required to pay restitution of $11,457. Sent to prison. | |
| WILLIAMS, Paul Jeffrey
Age: 46
|
|
| Sentenced to 3 years in prison for Theft By Unlawful Taking > $300, probated 3 years. | |
|
| 9th Division - Judge Kimberly Bunnell | |
| ESTES, Leslie R.
Age: 39
|
|
| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for Driving DUI Suspended License 2nd Offense, a $500 fine for Operating a Motor Vehicle Under/Influence of Alcohol/Drugs 3rd Offense or 60 days in jail, and 5 days in jail for Failure of Non-Owner Operator to Maintain Required Insurance. License is to be suspended for 2 years and required to pay a $500 fine. Sent to prison. | |
| HILL, Damarkus Ramar
Age: 19
|
|
| Sentenced to 5 years in prison for 1st Degree Trafficking in a Controlled Substance, 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Attempted Tampering with Physical Evidence, 6 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of 2nd Degree Fleeing or Evading the Police, 12 months in jail for Possession of Marijuana, and 30 days in jail for Operating on a Suspended/Revoked Operator's License. Sentences are to run concurrent for a total of 5 years in prison, probated 5 years. Required to complete the Hope Center Program and maintain full-time employment. | |
| JACKSON, Dewayne Lamar
Age: 19
|
|
| Sentenced to 2 years in prison for 1st Degree Possession of a Controlled Substance, probated 5 years. Required to complete 40 hours of community service per year and maintain full-time employment. | | |
|
|
|
|
Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney
