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Forensic Friday
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| Officer Don's Crime Prevention Tip |
Most of us have found ourselves wondering this at some time or other. But, because we aren't sure, we tend to move on, hoping it wasn't so, and we continue about our business.
PEOPLE AREN'T SUSPICIOUS, BEHAVIOR IS!
Here are some signs of suspicious behavior:
A stranger carrying property at an unusual hour or location, especially if the items are stereo equipment, office machinery or a locked bicycle;
A person going door-to-door in an office building or a residential area may be looking for an opportunity to steal;
Any person forcibly entering a locked vehicle, especially at night;
Unusual property in vehicles. Television sets, stereo equipment, GPS systems or auto parts could be stolen property;
Transactions being conducted from vehicles. You may be witnessing an illegal drug sale or sale of stolen property;
A person (especially a juvenile or female) being forced into a vehicle may be a kidnapping.
If you witness one of these events or other suspicious activity, call 911. Do not try to intervene yourself! |
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TOP STORIES
Crime-Fighters' Sharp Eye Out Department
Two groups in Frankfort attempting to reduce the number of prison and jail inmates.
Cops & Robbers News From Across America
Criminal justice news and trends from around the country.
Office News
Commonwealth's Attorney's Office honored by the Fayette County Public Schools' EBCE Program.
Crime Task Force News
Property Crimes Task Force formed. Legislature thinks most "property" crimes are non-violent crimes. Meet Lexington's Felony Prosecutors
Corinda K. Krebs is active in the Cease-Fire Project as well as the Drug Task Force.
Death Row Inmate of the Week
This killer was sentenced to Death twice.
Law Breaker of the Week
Crime Scene 101 - John Hamilton committed Burglary by climbing into a second-story window.
Immigration Update
"Rapid Deportation" - Florida wants to deport immigrant prison inmates.
Information Center
Want to know what cases were Indicted, Dismissed, or Transferred Back To District Court by the Grand Jury and what cases are set for trial? Check it out here.
Last Week's Circuit Court Sentencings
Who went to prison and who was probated. |
 Crime-Fighters' Sharp Eye Out Department |
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Two Groups In Frankfort Attempting To Reduce The Number Of Prison And Jail Inmates
One deals with present inmates, the other will attempt to change our criminal laws. We will soon find out how important "public safety" is to these people.
Those two groups are:
1) The Kentucky Criminal Justice Council, and
2) The Penal Code Study Committee.
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J. Michael Brown |
"The Legislature's intent is to review more cases and release more offenders from prison." That's how J. Michael Brown, Chair of the Kentucky Criminal Justice Council (Council) and Secretary of the Kentucky Justice Cabinet began the April 28, 2008 meeting of the Council.
Secretary Brown then described some of the language contained in the Budget Legislation passed by the 2008 session of our Legislature that will put more prison inmates back on the street sooner.
Parole Board & Parole Eligibility Changes
Parole Board membership increased from 7 to 9 in order to permit cases to be reviewed more quickly.
"Non-Violent" offenders convicted of Class D felonies (1-year to 5-year sentence) will have a parole board hearing after serving only 15% of their sentence. Example: A defendant sentenced to 5 years could be paroled within 9 months.
Increased "Good-Time" Credit (time taken off sentence for behaving while in prison) for education or substance abuse treatment.
Offenders released on parole will receive credit toward completion of their sentence for all time spent back in the community while on parole.
All of the current prison inmates will be reviewed under these new laws.
Home Incarceration
All "non-violent" non-sexual Class C (5 - 10 years) and Class D (1 - 5 years) felons will be eligible for long-term home incarceration, with electronic monitoring, when they have 6 months (180 days) left on their sentence. Some with more than 6 months left on their sentence will be eligible for home incarceration.
Next Week: The Penal Code Study Committee |
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Cops & Robbers News From Across America |
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| High Prices At The Pump May Prompt Crime Trend: Gas Theft
 In 2006, $122 million worth of fuel was stolen from U. S. gas pumps. Authorities around the country are warning gas station owners to be on the alert for fuel thefts in urban areas and along the interstates.
Editor's Comment: With the advent of high quality surveillance cameras, license plates are readily identifiable and I suspect prosecutions of gas thieves will increase.
Ice Cream Man A Concern In Some States
 A growing number of communities across the country are moving to prevent sexual predators from becoming ice cream truck drivers. Cases in New York, Florida and California have discovered convicted sex offenders selling ice cream from neighborhood trucks.
Editor's Comment: At the very least, a criminal background check should be required of any person who deals with children, including ice cream truck drivers.
The Best Way To Avoid Burglary Is To Think Like A Burglar
 Las Vegas Police visit homes to offer security advice. Common problems home owners made were not having exterior lighting, no pad locks on exterior doors, and not locking doors.
Editor's Comment: The very least a person should do is lock their doors and windows and put their garage door down.
Baltimore Says Many Young Shooting Victims Were Chronically Truant From School
 Baltimore students who were murdered or shot had poor school attendance before they fell victim to violence. Between 2003 and 2007, 115 young people in Baltimore were killed and 405 were victims of non-fatal shootings. These youths were absent from school an average of 46 days a year, and two-thirds had been suspended or expelled at least once.
Editor's Comment: No doubt many of these victims of homicides and shootings would still be alive today if they were in school and not on the street.
After Virginia Tech, More Colleges Are Removing Students With Mental Illnesses
 In the year after the Virginia Tech shootings of 33 students and faculty, colleges and universities have been on high alert for potentially troubled students. College administrators say that a growing number of faculty have been calling administrators about disruptive students, saying things like, "I want them out of here."
Editor's Comment: The safety of college students should be of paramount importance to college administrators. Parents send their children to college to learn, not to develop the art of self-defense or hand-to-hand combat.
Demand For Concealed Handgun Licenses Up 40% In Texas
 The demand for concealed handgun licenses has risen more than 40% in Texas in one year. That increase is being attributed to many factors, including presidential politics. "People are not sure what is going to happen after the election," said one person who trains applicants for the concealed carry permit. "Both Democratic candidates are anti-gun in one fashion or another." He said Senator Barack Obama is a "friend of Ted Kennedy and that scares everybody to death."
Editor's Comment: Enough said. |
| Office News |
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Commonwealth's Attorney's Office Honored By The EBCE Program
 The Fayette County Public Schools Experience Based Career Education (EBCE) Program celebrated the end of the school year with their annual breakfast. This year, they honored the Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney's Office for our support of the program. EBCE allows selected high school students to get a first-hand look at potential careers. Mentors from a variety of professions including medicine, law, education and business open their doors to these students.
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Karneisha Johnson |
Over the years, we have hosted hundreds of students, including Det. Shannon Garner of the Lexington Police Department. This year, nine students worked with our office, including Karneisha Johnson from Henry Clay High School. Karneisha spoke about her experiences with our office at the breakfast. Ray Larson spoke after receiving the award and encouraged students to take advantage of the contacts they made during the program. We appreciate the work of all the EBCE students who have been with us and look forward to meeting a new group in the fall. |
| Crime Task Force News |
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Property Crimes Task Force Formed
Legislature Thinks Most "Property" Crimes Are Non-Violent Crimes
Burglary victims disagree! They know their sense of safety and security have been violated.
 Property criminals, burglars, and those characters who break into cars are some of Lexington's most prolific repeat offenders. Just look at the number of crimes they commit:
| Number of "Frequent Fliers" |
79 |
| Number of prior criminal convictions (Felonies & Misdemeanors) |
1,280 |
| Average prior criminal convictions |
16.20 each |
So far in 2008, we have prosecuted 56 defendants who have been charged with Burglary (both Residential & Commercial), Larceny from Auto, and Receiving Stolen Property.
Offender Demographics:
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Race of Defendants: |
| White |
66.1% |
| Black |
25% |
| Hispanic |
8.9% |
- Over 95% of these defendants are male;
- The average age is 32.2 years;
- Total number of prior convictions - 812;
- Average prior convictions per defendant - 14.5 each.
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| Meet Lexington's Felony Prosecutors |
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Corinda K. Krebs |
Corinda K. Krebs was born in Provo, Utah. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, and earned her law degree from the University of Utah's S. J. Quinney College of Law in May of 2005.
Corinda passed the Nevada Bar and joined the staff of the Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney's Office in December of 2005, where she worked with the Cease-Fire Project, a gun violence prevention initiative. After passing the February, 2006 Kentucky Bar exam, she joined the office as an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney. Since that time she has actively participated with the Cease-Fire Project as well as the Drug Task Force. She has prosecuted a variety of cases including Burglaries, Robberies, Assaults, Gun Crimes, Drug Crimes, Domestic Violence cases and others. |
| Death Row Inmate Of The Week |
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What did this killer do to convince a jury to sentence him to death?
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Benny Lee Hodge
34 at the time
Male, White | Case #1: Benny Lee Hodge, along with Roger Epperson, stabbed a female victim 12 times with a butcher knife during a robbery at her father's home in Letcher County in 1985. The victim's body was found with the butcher knife stuck through her chest and imbedded in the floor. Her father, a physician, was strangled with an electric cord but survived. Hodge and Epperson stole $1.9 million, handguns and jewelry. Hodge was sentenced to Death on this case on June 20, 1986.
Case #2: Benny Lee Hodge murdered an elderly couple during a robbery in their home in Letcher County in 1985. The couple was found with their hands and feet tied behind them. The wife was shot twice in the back. The husband died as a result of a gunshot wound to his head, two blunt force head injuries and obstructed breathing caused by a ligature gag. Hodge was sentenced to Death on this case on November 22, 1996.
That's what he did. He sentenced himself to death. |
| Law Breaker Of The Week |
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Crime Scene 101
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Second-story windows where Hamilton broke in and out of. |
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John Hamilton |
At about 2:00 p.m. on May 14, 2006, Lexington patrol officers responded to a burglary in progress at an apartment complex on Man O' War Drive. Eye-witnesses described how a man pulled a decorative weather vane from the courtyard over to the exterior wall, climbed up it, and broke through the second-story window. When officers knocked on the apartment door, the suspect jumped out a different window and was immediately arrested.
The burglar was identified as John Hamilton, age 22 at the time. Criminal records showed that Hamilton had 15 prior misdemeanor convictions for offenses including Possession of Marijuana, Public Intoxication, and Assault. At the time of his arrest, Hamilton was a fugitive with an active warrant for violating his probation on an earlier Theft charge.
Hamilton was sent to the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center in February of 2007, then absconded from drug treatment while awaiting trial in May of 2007. He pled guilty to Burglary and Bail Jumping in March of 2008 and was sentenced to serve six years in the penitentiary. |
| Immigration Update |
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| "Rapid Deportation" - Florida Wants To Deport Immigrant Prison Inmates
 "Go home! The airplane ticket is on us." That's the message Florida officials want to send to immigrants who are not U.S. citizens and who are doing prison time for "non-violent" crimes.
The "Go-Home" offer would apply only to the estimated 2,500 immigrant inmates - both legal and illegal - who are not violent and not U.S. citizens. Similar "Rapid Deportation" programs are planned for both Arizona and New York.
"We have a crime problem and an immigration problem. This idea could deal with both," said a spokesperson. |
| Information Center |
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To see the latest Grand Jury returns, including Indictments, Dismissals, and cases Returned to District Court, click on the dates below:
The Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney's Office Criminal Trial Schedule is updated each Monday. To see our trial schedule, click here. |
Fayette Circuit Court Sentencings Friday, May 9, 2008 |
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| 3rd Division- Judge James Ishmael | |
| BAKER, Robert Jerome
Age: 45 |
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| REPEAT OFFENDER. Sentenced to 15 years in prison for 1st Degree Trafficking in a Controlled Substance and status as a Persistent Felony Offender, 3 years and 6 months for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, to run concurrently for a total of 15 years in prison. Sent to prison. | |
| BOYD, James Carter
Age: 30 |
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| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for Flagrant Non Support, probated for 5 years. | |
| DENNISON, Dana Denise
Age: 37 |
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| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for Theft By Unlawful Taking >$300, probated for 3 years. | |
| EVANS, Johnetta
Age: 43 |
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| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of 2nd Degree Fleeing/Evading the Police, probated for 2 years. | |
| JACKSON, Antoine Dupree
Age: 19 |
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| Sentenced to 3 years in prison for the prosecution's amended charge of 1st Degree Possession of a Controlled Substance Sent to prison. | |
| MARION, Felandes John
Age: 52 |
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| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for Trafficking in Marijuana, 8 oz to <5 lbs., probated for 3 years. | |
| MCCREADIE, Christopher Scott
Age: 19 |
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| Sentenced to 5 years in prison for Theft of Controlled Substance and 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Receiving Stolen Property <$300, to run concurrently for a total of 5 years in prison, probated for 5 years. Required to serve 30 days in jail with work release. | |
| RITCHEY, Megan Louise
Age: 23 |
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| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for Receiving Stolen Property >$300, 12 months in jail for Theft By Unlawful Taking <$300, to run concurrently for a total of 1 year in prison, conditionally discharged for 1 year. | |
| 4th Division - Judge Pamela Goodwine | |
| CARTER, Bobby James
Age: 29 |
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| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for Flagrant Non Support, probated for 3 years. | |
| GUY, Aaron Thomas
Age: 50 |
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| REPEAT OFFENDER. Sentenced to 1 year in prison enhanced to 5 years for the prosecution's amended charge of 1st Degree Possession of a Controlled Substance and status as a Persistent Felony Offender, 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia 1st offense, 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Giving an Officer a False Name or Address, 90 days in jail for Operating a Motor Vehicle on Suspended/Revoked License, 90 days in jail for 1st Degree Failure of Non-Owner Operator to Maintain Required Insurance, all counts to run concurrently for a total of 5 years in prison, probated for 5 years. | |
| SMITH, Alissa Nicole
Age: 21 |
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| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Theft By Unlawful Taking <$300, probated for 2 years. | |
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| 8th Division - Judge Thomas L. Clark | |
| HOUSTON, Billy Dale
Age: 41 |
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| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for Driving on DUI Suspended License, 2nd offense in 5 years, 60 days in jail and 24-month license suspension for 3rd degree Operating a Motor Vehicle under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs, to run concurrently for a total of 1 year in prison. Sent to prison. | |
| PARKS, Shaun Lamont
Age: 29 |
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| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for 1st degree Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Offense, probated for 2 years. | |
| REED, Tammy Fay
Age: 44 |
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| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for Theft By Unlawful Taking >$300, probated for 3 years. | |
| REYNOLDS, Jacob
Age: 29 |
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| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Theft By Unlawful Taking <$300, probated for 2 years. | |
| SUTER, Richard Wesley Jr.
Age: 34 |
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| Sentenced to 1 year in prison each for 2 counts of Flagrant Non Support, to run consecutively for a total of 2 years. Sent to prison. | |
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