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Every Thursday -- check WKYT.com for the latest "A Message from Ray the D.A."
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| American D.A. - LIVE
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Forensic Friday
Every other Friday 9 am
WVLK 590 AM |
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Officer Don's Crime Prevention Tip |
Raising Streetwise Kids
Would your child know what to do if...
He/she got lost at a shopping mall?;
A nice-looking, friendly stranger offered him/her a ride home after school?;
A friend dared him to drink some beer or smoke a joint?;
A babysitter or a neighbor wanted to play a "secret game?"
Kids today need to know common-sense rules that can help keep them safe -- and and build the self-confidence they need to handle emergencies.
Make sure your children know their full name, address (city and state), and phone number with area code;
Be sure kids know to call 9-1-1 or "0" in emergencies and how to use a public phone. Practice making emergency calls with a make-believe phone;
Tell them never to accept rides or gifts from someone they and you don't know well;
Teach children to go to a store clerk, security guard, or police officer for help if lost in a mall or on the street;
Set a good example with your own actions -- lock doors and windows and see who's there before opening the door;
Take time to listen carefully to your children's fears and feelings about people or places that scare them or make them feel uneasy. |
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| Meet the Summer 2008 Interns |
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| University of Kentucky - Senior, Accounting |
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| University of Kentucky, College of Law - 2L |
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| University of Kentucky - Senior, Public Relations & Spanish |
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| University of Kentucky, College of Law - 2L |
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| Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law - 3L |
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Florida A & M University, College of Law - 2L |
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| Campbellsville University - Senior, Political Science & Broadcast Journalism | | |
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 Welcome to our E-Newsletter Feel free to forward our E-Newsletter to others.
Having trouble viewing A Message from Ray the D.A.? Click here. |
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TOP STORIES
The Crime-Fighters' Fact-Checker
Was the Public Defender's budget really cut? The Fact-Checker takes a closer look -- you decide.
"The Real Deal" Intern Series
Episode 14: Interns Girls' Night Out - Sex and the City Grand Opening.
"The Real Deal" Intern Series
Episode 15: Motion Hour.
"The Real Deal" Intern Series
Episode 16: Cease-Fire Meeting.
Meet Lexington's Felony Prosecutors
Erin Hayne's focus is on the prosecution of cases involving guns and her interest is in the prosecution of internet crimes.
Immigration Update
The financial impact of illegal aliens.
Death Row Inmate Of The Week
This killer murdered his 79-year-old landlord and stole his change purse containing $4.60.
Next On American DA - LIVE
Prosecutor Daniel Saunders from the Queens, New York, D.A.'s Office, discusses the Wendy's Massacre case. 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. |
| The Crime-Fighters' Fact-Checker |
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 Was The Lexington Public Defender's Budget Really Cut?
The Fact-Checker takes a closer look -- you decide.
Recently the editorial writers at the Lexington Herald-Leader condemned Governor Steve Beshear, the Kentucky House of Representatives, the Senate in general and Senator David Williams in particular for "cutting" the budget of the Lexington Office of the Department of Public Advocacy (DPA).
Was there really a "cut" to their budget, or was there simply a reduction to the "request" of Ernie Lewis?
A little budget history: Prior to the recent take-over of Fayette County's Legal Aid Office by DPA in 2007, there were two independent public defenders agencies in Kentucky: Louisville and Lexington. Both received the bulk of their funding from the DPA in Frankfort, which has been headed by Ernie Lewis for several years.
The funding provided by DPA in Frankfort for the legal representation of indigent defendants in Lexington over the past few years is worth examining.
 editorial wrote: The new state budget "punishes" Lexington's office of DPA because they "only" received $1,500,000 for 2008, after DPA Director Ernie Lewis "requested $2,800,000 to pay 22 lawyers in Lexington."  FACT CHECK: The fact is that the $2,800,000 requested by Lewis would practically triple the amount DPA provided to Fayette County Legal Aid for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007. The $1,500,000 that the Legislature did provide to the Lexington Office of DPA represents a 65% increase over the amount they received from DPA in 2007.
We can only assume that the DPA funding allocations to Lexington and Louisville Public Defender offices represent what the DPA decision-makers must have felt was adequate at the time to provide legal representation for indigent defendants by each of those respective offices. This assumption is based on fact that the Louisville office received a 19.2% increase from DPA in their 2005 through 2007 budgets allocations, while the Lexington office received NO increases from DPA at all.
The 2005, 2006 and 2007 allocations to the respective offices by DPA were as follows:
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2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
| Lexington |
$969,009 |
$969,009 (0%) |
$969,009 (0%) |
$1,500,000** (+65%) |
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** (2008 represents $530,991 (65%) increase over the amount DPA allocated to the Fayette County Legal Aid to provide legal services for indigent defendants in Lexington from 2005 to 2007). |
| Louisville |
$3,305,400 |
$3,405,400 (+9.7%) |
$4,018,950 (+8.47%) |
No Info. |
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(DPA did not increase the funding of Fayette County Legal Aid from 2005 through 2007, while they increased the allocation to the Louisville Public Defenders Office by 19.2% during that same time period). |
Editorial wrote: The DPA Director, Ernie Lewis, " requested $2,800,000" (almost triple their 2007 budget) " to pay 22 lawyers in Lexington." That figure was reduced to $1,800.000 (almost double their 2007 budget) by the budget proposed by the Governor and the House of Representatives. Editorial then wrote: "But the Senate," which reduced the allocation to $1,500,000 ( a 65% increase over their 2007 budget), "voted to give Lexington's public defenders nothing."FACT CHECK: editorial writer's say, "Ernie Lewis requested $2.8 million to pay 22 lawyers in Lexington." Holy-Cow! If the Herald-Leader is correct, then the lawyers' salaries under Lewis's request and final 2008 Legislative budget allocation could be as follows:
| $2,800,000 |
22 Attorneys |
$127,272.72
(less 20% benefit cost) |
$101,818.18 salary |
| $1,800,000 |
22 Attorneys |
$81,818.18
(less 20% benefit cost) |
$ 65,454.55 salary |
| $1,500.000 |
17 Attorneys |
$88,235.29
(less 20% benefit cost) |
$ 70,588.24 salary |
FACT-CHECKER'S FINAL THOUGHTS: No one objects to anyone expressing their opinions, but we should never forget that editorial opinions of newspapers are simply the views of a few newspaper employees; nothing more, nothing less. Did they have all of the facts? We don't know.
The DPA budget issue raises additional questions about DPA that have puzzled many in the criminal justice system for years. The Fact-Checker leaves for another day those questions, which concern:
The mystery surrounding the DPA method of counting cases;
To what extent, if any, are people who are not really indigent being represented by DPA? |
| "The Real Deal" Intern Series -- Episode 14 |
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Interns Girls' Night Out - Sex And The City Grand Opening
 Intern Andolyn Johnson's Comments:
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Andolyn and friends at the movie. |
The other female interns and I had been anticipating Friday all week, but not for the normal reasons. "Sex and the City," the movie, was coming out and, of course, we all had plans to see it. The hype surrounding the movie had been building for months, and my roommates and I had re-watched every episode to prepare.
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| "The Real Deal" Intern Series -- Episode 15 |
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Motion Hour
 By Intern Sharletta Mahone
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Sharletta and Dan Laren at Motion Hour. |
Friday morning, I had the privilege of attending Judge Ishmael's Motion Hour . . . which actually went from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Motion Hour is a time scheduled for attorneys to make motions in regards to pending cases prior to trial. A Motion is a written or oral application requesting a court to make a specified ruling or order. Black's Law Dictionary (8th Edition, 2004).
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| "The Real Deal" Intern Series -- Episode 16 |
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Cease-Fire Meeting
 By Intern Daniel Whitley
 Last Friday the interns and I had the opportunity to attend a Cease-Fire Meeting in the conference room at the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. Attending this meeting were attorneys from the U. S. Attorney's Office, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorneys Brad Bryant and Erin Hayne, and detectives and officers from the Lexington Police Department.
Click here to read the rest of the article. |
| Meet Lexington's Felony Prosecutors |
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Erin S. Hayne |
Erin S. Hayne was born in Charleston, West Virginia. She relocated to Lexington and attended Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. She graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana with degrees in English Writing and Spanish. Erin then received her law degree from the University of Dayton School of Law.
After interning at the Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney's Office during law school, Erin joined the staff as a prosecutor in August of 2007. Her focus is on the prosecution of cases involving guns and her interest is in the prosecution of internet crimes. |
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Immigration Update |
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The Financial Impact Of Criminal Aliens
 The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is the nation's Chief Federal Prosecutor. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is responsible for the incarceration of all federal prisoners convicted in federal courts. The Number of Criminal Aliens in Custody
Criminal aliens (both legal and illegal non-citizens convicted of crimes) are a rapidly increasing burden on the prison systems in the U.S. and American taxpayers.
In 1980, federal and state facilities held fewer than 9,000 criminal aliens;
In 2004, approximately 267,000 criminal aliens were incarcerated in U.S. prisons and jails.
In federal prisons..................46,000
In state prisons....................74,000
In local jails........................147,000
Approximately 27% of all prisoners in federal prisons are criminal aliens. The majority (63%) are citizens of Mexico. 17% are from Central America, Cuba, Jamaica and Haiti. The remaining are from 164 different countries.
Federal Prisons - The Federal Bureau of Prisons estimates the annual cost of incarcerating this group is $1,500,000,000 annually. It should be noted that the shortage of prison space has required the BOP to be unable to hold all of the eligible prisoners.
Costs to Crime Victims of Failure to Incarcerate Criminal Aliens
The cost to taxpayers of incarcerating criminal aliens is trivial when compared to the costs these illegal criminals impose on their victims.
The General Accounting Office (GAO) recently analyzed the "rap sheets" of more than 55,000 criminal aliens in federal, state and local correctional facilities during 2003. (Source: General Accounting Office, "Information on Certain Illegal Aliens Arrested in the United States.")
The GAO found:
* The average criminal alien was arrested for 13 prior offenses;
* 12% were for murder, robbery, assault, and sex related crimes;
* Only 21% were for immigration law offenses, the rest were for felonies;
* 81% of their arrests occurred after 1990.
Criminal aliens are not casual lawbreakers. Most are repeat offenders - career criminals. The economic hardship they impose on their victims, including loss of income and property, uncompensated hospital bills, and emotional pain and suffering has been estimated at $1.6 million per violent offender.
Those who try to say that the criminal alien population in Lexington is not a burden on the rest of us, are simply choosing to ignore the facts.
Source: The Social Contract Press. |
| 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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John Mills
25 at the time
Male, White | John Mills murdered his 79-year-old landlord during a burglary and robbery in Knox County in 1995. He stabbed the victim 29 times with a pocket knife and struck him in the head five times with a blunt object. He stole the victim's change purse containing $4.60.
Mills was sentenced to Death on October 18, 1996.
That's what he did. He sentenced himself to death.
From "ALIVE - Voices From Inside" Inmate Penpal Website:
Hello, my name is John Mills. I am on death row in the state of Kentucky, USA. Looking for a friend who can share with me life's ups and downs and give support. I am 33 years old. Lived in Kentucky all my life. Grew up in south eastern Ky.
Love the outdoors, nature and I love all kinds of sports. Most of all football and NASCAR (car racing). I enjoying lifting weights. I could use a good friend who cares.
John Mills |
| Next On American DA - LIVE |
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| Wendy's Massacre Trial
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Defendant Craig Godineaux |
Defendant John B. Taylor |
Prosecutor Daniel Saunders |
On May 24, 2000, five employees of the Wendy's in Flushing, Queens, New York were killed during a robbery by former employee John B. Taylor and his accomplice Craig Godineaux. The men waited until the restaurant was empty and then forced the seven employees into the basement. All were tied up and shot point blank in their heads. The men presumed all seven were dead and completed their robbery, taking $2,400. Two victims survived the gunshot and were able to call the police. This became known as the "Wendy's Massacre."
Daniel Saunders, Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney of the Queens, New York, District Attorney's Office, joins Ray Larson and Jack Pattie to talk about this case on American DA - LIVE on Friday, June 27, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. on WVLK 590 AM.
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| 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. |
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Fayette Circuit Court Sentencings
Thursday, June 12, 2008 and Friday, June 13, 2008 |
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| 3rd Division - Judge James Ishmael | |
| BROWN, Johnathan Michael
Age: 19 |
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| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Criminal Attempt to 2nd degree Burglary. Ordered to pay $500 in restitution. Sent to jail. | |
| CLAY, Isiah Dejuan
Age: 20 |
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| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for the prosecution's amended charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance and 1 year in prison for 1st degree Promoting Contraband, to run concurrently for a total of 1 year in prison. Sent to prison. | |
| ROYSE, Rickie Dale
Age: 39 |
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| Sentenced to 5 years in prison for Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration, probated for 5 years. | |
| WILSON, Danny C.
Age: 48 |
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| Sentenced to 5 years in prison for Attempted 1st degree Burglary. Sent to Prison. | |
| 4th Division - Judge Pamela Goodwine | |
| CLAY, Terrence Douglas
Age: 19 |
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| Sentenced to 4 years in prison for Fraudulent Use of Credit Cards >$100 within a 6 Month Period, probated for 5 years. Ordered to pay in $2,019.01. | |
| COLEMAN, Trina Renee
Age: 31 |
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| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Knowingly Exploiting Adult by Person <$300, probated for 2 years. | |
| DEDMON, Michael Vashon
Age: 35 |
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| REPEAT OFFENDER. Sentenced to 10 years in prison for Convicted Felon in Possession of a Handgun and status as a Persistent Felony Offender. Sent to prison. | |
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| 7th Division - Judge Sheila Isaac | |
| BILLINGS, Daniel Lee
Age: 28 |
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| Sentenced to 5 years in prison for the prosecution's amended charge of 3rd degree Assault and 12 months in jail each for 3 counts of the prosecution's amended charge of 4th degree Assault, to run concurrently for a total of 5 years in prison. Ordered to pay $10, 443.37 in restitution. Sent to prison. | |
| BRANK, Derrick Lamont
Age: 19 |
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| Sentenced to 12 years in prison for 1st degree Burglary, 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Criminal Trespass and 12 months in jail for Theft by Unlawful Taking < $300, to run concurrently for a total of 12 years in prison. Sent to prison. | |
| COLE, Kristopher M.
Age: 23 |
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| REPEAT OFFENDER. Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of 2nd degree Wanton Endangerment. In a separate case, sentenced to 10 years in prison for 1st degree Trafficking in a Controlled Substance and status as a Persistent Felony Offender and 12 months in jail for Trafficking in Marijuana < 8 oz. , all counts to run concurrently for a total of 10 years in prison. Sent to prison. | |
| FAIN, Justin Blake
Age: 26 |
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| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Trafficking in Marijuana < 8 oz. and 12 months in jail for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Serve 10 weekends in jail, probated for 2 years. | |
| FERGUSON, Joseph Glenn
Age: 26 |
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| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Criminal Attempt 2nd Burglary, probated for 2 years. Ordered to pay $305 in restitution. | |
| GAMBLE, Alisha Nicole
Age: 22 |
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| Sentenced to 6 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Criminal Attempt to Theft by Unlawful Taking > $300, probated for 2 years. | |
| HILL, Ryan Christopher
Age: 19 |
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| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, 2nd or > offense and 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Criminal Attempt Possession of a Controlled Substance, to run concurrently for a total of 1 year in prison. Sent to prison. | |
| MEFFORD, Chazaray Steffon
Age: 24 |
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| Sentenced to 6 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Theft by Unlawful Taking < $300, probated for 2 years. | |
| ROBINSON, Wesley Jamar
Age: 22 |
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| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Criminal Attempt to Possession of a Controlled Substance and 12 months in jail for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, to run concurrently for a total of 12 months in jail, probated for 2 years. | |
| TUCKER, Lynn Sue
Age: 40 |
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| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, 2nd or > Offense, probated for 3 years. | |
| WILLIAMS, Jeffrey Lee
Age: 35 |
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| Sentenced to 5 years in prison for the prosecution's amended charge of Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration, 1st Offense, probated for 3 years. | |
| YOUNG, William Jr.
Age: 33 |
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| Sentenced to 3 years in prison for the prosecution's amended charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance, serve 60 days, probated for 5 years | |
| FAIN, Jeremy Scott
Age: 19 |
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| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Trafficking in Marijuana and 12 months in jail for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, to run concurrently for a total of 12 months in jail, probated for 2 years. | |
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| 8th Division - Judge Thomas L. Clark | |
| CHANEY, Debbie Renee
Age: 35 |
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| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for Tampering With Physical Evidence, probated for 3 years. | |
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| 9th Division - Judge Kimberly Bunnell | |
| BELL, Lamont Allen
Age: 25 |
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| REPEAT OFFENDER. Sentenced to 1 year in prison for 1st degree Bail Jumping. In a separate case, sentenced to 5 years in prison for 1st degree Trafficking in a Controlled Substance and status as a Persistent Felony Offender, to run consecutively for a total of 6 years in prison, probated for 5 years. | |
| BRADLEY, Ronald Gene
Age: 49 |
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| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for Flagrant Non Support, probated for 5 years. Ordered to pay $24,572.80 in arrearage. | |
| GABRIEL, Juanita Leeann
Age: 26 |
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| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for Theft by Unlawful Taking > $300, probated for 5 years. Ordered to pay $210 in restitution. | |
| HOWARD, Tammie Renee
Age: 40 |
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| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of 4th degree Assault, probated for 2 years. | |
| MILTON, Stephanie Nicole
Age: 23 |
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| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for Fraudulent Use of Credit Cards > $300 within a 6 Month Period and 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Criminal Attempt to Theft of Identity, to run concurrently for a total of 1 year in prison. Ordered to pay $696.72 in restitution. Sent to prison. | |
| STEWART, Matthew Blake
Age: 22 |
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| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for 1st degree Possession of a Controlled Substance and 12 months in jail for Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon, to run concurrently for a total of 1 year in prison, probated for 5 years. | |
| WILKINSON, Daniel Kain
Age: 33 |
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| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of 3rd degree Possession of a Controlled Substance and 12 months in jail for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, 1st Offense, to run concurrently for a total of 12 months in jail, probated for 2 years. | |
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