| Criminal Justice News |
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Officer Don's Crime Prevention Tip |
Raising Streetwise Kids - Part IV
Protecting your child against sexual abuse...
Let your child know that he or she can tell you anything, and that you'll be supportive.
Teach your child that no one -- not even a teacher or a close relative -- has the right to touch him or her in a way that feels uncomfortable, and that it's okay to say no, get away, and tell a trusted adult.
Don't force kids to kiss or hug or sit on a grownup's lap if they don't want to. This gives them control and teaches them that they have the right to refuse.
Always know where your child is and who he or she is with.
Tell your child to stay away from strangers who hang around playgrounds, public restrooms, and schools.
Be alert for changes in your child's behavior that could signal sexual abuse such as sudden secretiveness, withdrawal from activities, refusal to go to school, unexplained hostility toward a favorite babysitter or relative, or increased anxiety.
Some physical signs of abuse include bedwetting, loss of appetite, venereal disease, nightmares, and complaints of pain or irritation around the genitals.
If your child has been sexually abused, report it to the police or a child protection agency immediately.
If your child is a victim of any crime, from stolen lunch money to sexual abuse, don't blame him or her. Listen and offer sympathy.
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| Sheriff Kathy Witt |
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Fugitives Wanted by the Fayette County Sheriff's Office
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WANTED |
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Reginald J. Bush |
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Murder, Robbery 1st |
DOB: 06/28/1979
Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 145
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Blue |
Click here to see who is wanted by the Fayette County Sheriff's Office. |
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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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Having trouble viewing A Message from Ray the D.A.? Click here. |
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TOP STORIES
Keeping A Sharp Eye On Frankfort
Frankfort's rush to release prisoners. Notes from the Kentucky Criminal Justice Council meeting.
Office News
Sex crimes against children - most difficult and heartbreaking cases.
Outrage of the Month
Judge overturns Dad's punishment of his child. Criminal Justice News & ViewsCost of crime in Lexington - $24 million so far, '08.
Meet Lexington's Victims' Advocates
Robin Anderson deals with crime victims every day. Meet Kentucky's Commonwealth's Attorneys
Karen Greene Blondell - prosecutor respected throughout Kentucky.
"The Real Deal" Intern Series
Episode 24: It's been a big summer for our very own intern, Daniel Whitley. He got engaged!
"The Real Deal" Intern Series
Episode 25: The Bluegrass 10,000 Race.
"The Real Deal" Intern Series
Episode 26: Georgetown Street Area Neighborhood Association Meeting "The Real Deal" Intern Series
Episode 27 - Intern Autopsy Day
Death Row Inmate Of The Week
This killer murdered five people in Oklahoma and two in Kentucky.
Recent Court Case
Shoplifting 101 - Debbie Sue and Richard Henson's attempt at shoplifting.Lexington's Unsolved Homicide Cases
Pamela Lynn Mansell's cause of death was strangulation. 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.
Who is on Home Incarceration in Lexington?
Convicted criminals in the Home Incarceration Program (HIP) in Lexington. Last Week's Circuit Court Sentencings
Who went to prison and who was probated. |
 Keeping A Sharp Eye On Frankfort |
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Frankfort's Rush To Release Prisoners
Kentucky Criminal Justice Council Meeting - June 9, 2008
Notes And Observations From The Cheap Seats
 The Kentucky Criminal Justice Council (KCJC) is now in the process of trying to figure out how to save about $30 million from the state budget. The Legislature did its part too. Our senators and representatives once again legislated through the budget process, and thereby avoided any public discussion of issues such as releasing lots & lots of prison inmates early from Kentucky's prisons.
Here's what the Legislature did to let prison inmates out earlier:
1) Added two Parole Board members to review more cases to let more prisoners out on parole;
2) Reduced non-violent offender parole eligibility from 20% to 15% (this is retroactive to people presently in prison);
3) Expanded the Home Incarceration Program to allow release of prison inmates who have 6 months remaining on their sentence;
4) Recalculated sentences to give prison time credit to paroled inmates for the time they are out of custody;
5) Expanded/enlarged good time and merit time to be deducted from their sentences.
So what is the KCJC doing to facilitate the Legislature's mandate? They are meeting and making decisions. We hope to attend each of their meetings, take notes and report their activities along with our own observations.
Click here for our notes and observations of the June 9, 2008 KCJC meeting. |
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Office News |
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"Sexual Crimes Against Children Are Some Of The Most Difficult And Heartbreaking Cases We Deal With," Says Ray Larson
Larson is pleased with the high conviction rate (89%) in child sexual abuse cases since 1996.
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| 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. She has been a prosecutor since 1987 and has become an expert in the investigation and prosecution of the sexual abuse of children. |
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| Elizabeth H. Davis was born in Ashland, Kentucky. She graduated from Sweet Briar College in Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Spanish and received her law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law. After interning at the Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney's Office during law school, Elizabeth joined the staff as a prosecutor in 2004. Her area of special interest is the prosecution of child sexual abuse, specifically those cases in which children are targeted on the internet. | "It shouldn't have to hurt to be a child," says Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Larson. "But far too often it does. Our office must deal with cases in which a young child has been sexually abused by an adult.
We in Lexington are fortunate to have Lou Anna Red Corn in our office. She is, without question, one of the nation's outstanding prosecutors of these cases," said Larson.
Lou Anna Red Corn has been a felony prosecutor for over 20 years. Not only is she a superior trial attorney, she was responsible for the development of the Fayette County Multi-Disciplinary Team. She and Elizabeth Davis alternate Chairing the Friday meetings of the Multi-Disciplinary Team, which carefully reviews all cases involving child sexual abuse cases which occur in Lexington.
"Thanks to Lou Anna's leadership, she and our other prosecutors have achieved excellent results. Of course, we wish we could convict every defendant whom the Grand Jury indicts for a sex crime against a child, but our 89% conviction rate since 1996 is outstanding for these very difficult cases," Larson said.
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Summary of Child Sexual Abuse Cases Reviewed by
Fayette Multi-Disciplinary Team (1996-2008)
and Prosecution Information |
| TOTAL 1996-2008: |
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| Total Reported/Reviewed Multi-Team Cases |
3,493 |
| Total Cases Referred for Prosecution |
864 |
Cases Referred to District Court
(Prosecuted by Fayette County Attorney) |
298 |
Cases Referred to Circuit Court
(Prosecuted by Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney) |
566 |
| Cases Indicted by the Grand Jury |
463 |
| Conviction Rate in Circuit Court |
89% | |
 Outrage of the Month |
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Want To Know Why We Are In The Mess We Are? Check This Out!
Source: "Court Trumps Dad Over Detention," by Roger Sinasohn, ParentDish, June 22, 2008.
 "A 12-year-old girl in Quebec, Canada didn't like being grounded -- and missing a graduation trip with her elementary (that's right - elementary school) schoolmates -- so she filed a lawsuit. Recently, Quebec Superior Court Judge Suzanne Tessier ruled that the father's punishment was out-of-line."
"At first, the punishment was simply that the daughter was not allowed to go online because she had posted pictures of herself on an internet dating site. (Remember, she is 12-years-old).
Then when she got into a fight with her step-mother, the dad brought the hammer down -- "OK, it's final. You're not going," he told her, referring to the school trip. The girl took off and went to stay with her mother. She filed a motion asking the court to overturn the punishment."
"The Judge's reasoning was that the girl had already been sufficiently punished and that she was currently living with her mother, 'the punishment wasn't really applicable.' "
"I don't know all of the details . . . but I'd hate to see the courts dealing with disgruntled teens."
Then Mr. Sinasohn asked what his readers thought. Here is what they told him.
It is a matter for parents only......95.7%
Kids need to have a voice and neutral representation......4.3%
Editor's Comment: Can't you hear it the next time you ground your kid: "You have the right to a lawyer. If you can't afford one, one will be appointed for you." Good grief!! Give me a break!! |
| Criminal Justice News & Views |
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The Cost Of Crime In Lexington?
$24 million So Far - '08
The co$t of crime in Lexington vs. the co$t to keep'em in jail
 The financial impact of crime on victims is seldom, if ever, a concern to those who are not victimized. However, the cost of crime is extremely high. And we intend to keep you advised of the cost of serious crimes in Lexington.
So, how do you calculate the cost of a crime? We have the benefit of an expert, Mark Cohen, an Analyst for the Federal Sentencing Commission, who computed the costs of Pain, Suffering and Fear as a result of crime. He did this, in part, on how juries in civil trials apportioned damages between direct economic financial losses suffered by a party and the pain and suffering they endured.
Mark Cohen estimated the average per-crime cost to victims in 1984 (using the value of the dollar in 1985) as follows:
| Rape |
$51,058 |
| Robbery |
$12,594 |
| Assault |
$12,028 |
| Personal Theft |
$181 |
| Auto Theft |
$3,127 |
| Burglary |
$939 |
Lexington's Cost of Crime to Victims so far in 2008 (using Cohen's 1984 cost estimate):
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Type of Crime |
Frequency to Date |
Average Cost to Victim |
Cost of Crime to Date for 2008 |
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Rape |
57 |
$51,058 |
$2,910,306 |
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Robbery |
188 |
$12,594 |
$2,367,672 |
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Assault |
451 |
$12,028 |
$5,424,628 |
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Larceny from Auto |
2,638 |
$181 |
$477,478 |
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Auto Theft |
203 |
$3,127 |
$634,781 |
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Burglary |
810 |
$939 |
$760,590 |
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Total |
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$12,575,455 | Finding the Cost in 2008 dollars:
Many factors must be considered before adjusting a price from one year to another. A great tool when converting prices is the CPI inflation calculator, which uses the average Consumer Price Index for a given calendar year. This data represents changes in prices of all goods and services purchased for consumption by urban households. This index value has been calculated every year since 1913.
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| Meet Lexington's Victims' Advocates |
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 Robin Anderson is from Lexington, Kentucky. She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and a minor in Psychology.
Robin joined the staff of the Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney's Office in October of 2000 as a Crime Victims' Advocate, specializing in crimes against the elderly. She is the Director of the Victim's Services Unit and serves as a liaison between this office and the Crime Victim's Compensation Board. |
| Meet Kentucky's Commonwealth's Attorneys |
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Karen Greene Blondell, Bell County Commonwealth's Attorney - Respected Throughout Kentucky
 Karen Greene Blondell has been the Commonwealth's Attorney for the 44th Judicial District in Bell County, Kentucky since 1993. Karen completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Kentucky and her law degree from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University. Following her graduation, Karen worked with the Harrison County Commonwealth's Attorney Jack Keith. She returned to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky to open a private practice in her hometown of Middlesboro, Kentucky in 1983.
After her election in 1993, Karen became one of the first female Commonwealth's Attorneys in Kentucky history. She has won the respect and admiration of prosecutors on both the state and national levels, having previously served as an officer in the Commonwealth's Attorney's Association and as the active state director from Kentucky at the National District Attorney's Association.
When not fighting to keep her community safe, Karen splits time between being both a devoted wife and mother. She is a gifted musician who plays a significant role in the musical department of the First Christian Church of Middlesboro and has, on many occasions, directed the Children's Christmas Pageants that have been universally praised from Arjay to Frakes.
Bell County continues to be fortunate to be served by Karen Greene Blondell, a great example of what a prosecutor can and should be. |
| "The Real Deal" Intern Series -- Episode 24 |
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It's Been A Big Summer For Our Very Own Intern, Daniel Whitley. He Got Engaged!
By Ray Larson
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Daniel with his fiance Kimberly. |
It was Saturday afternoon at Masterson Station Park, Shelter #1. Intern Daniel Whitley had sent all of us an announcement that he had become engaged to Kimberly Murray and that they were announcing and celebrating the event with an afternoon barbecue. I was honored to be asked and, as usual, arrived early with camera in hand.
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Daniel and Kimberly along with their family members. | I had the additional pleasure of meeting so many of their family members. They are all so proud of this wonderful young couple, and well they should be. A great time was had by all, and I am so pleased to have been part of such a happy event. By the way, Daniel -- Kim is a real winner. . . . and so are you. |
| "The Real Deal" Intern Series -- Episode 25 |
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The Bluegrass 10,000 Race
 By Intern Danielle Yannelli
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Danielle crosses the finish line. | Last Friday Lexington celebrated its 32nd Anniversary of the Bluegrass 10,000 Race. This year's celebration started off bright and early; however, it wasn't the beautiful morning for which everyone had hoped. Instead, Mother Nature brought on the rain. But that wasn't going to keep the more than 3,000 runners, walkers and wheelchair racers from competing in the race. It especially wasn't going to keep me and Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Jason Moore from running the race.
Click here to read the rest of the article. |
| "The Real Deal" Intern Series -- Episode 26 |
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Georgetown Street Area Neighborhood Association Meeting
 By Intern Daniel Whitley
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Daniel renews an old acquaintance. | At a young age, I attended many meetings with my mother (Shirley Hayden) cornering various issues that Lexington's North, East and West sides of town were having. While attending those meetings I had the opportunity to meet concerned citizens, politicians and lawyers. From those meetings I developed a passion to make the community I was raised in a better place to live and raise children and I developed a passion for politics and law. That is why I wanted to become a lawyer. It was only natural when I heard Mr. Larson mentioning the Georgetown Street Area Neighborhood Association Meeting at Douglas Park that I asked to tag along.
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| "The Real Deal" Intern Series -- Episode 27 |
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Intern Autopsy Day
 By Intern Andolyn Johnson
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Where the autopsies actually take place. | Monday morning after the Fourth of July weekend we left early for Frankfort to tour the Central Laboratory Facility. We were nervous because our plan included watching an autopsy. Mike Wilder, the Executive Director of the Office of the State Medical Examiner, led our tour. We had little warning before we turned a corner and were startled to see two corpses cut open on tables with doctors performing the autopsies. We were able to go inside the autopsy room and see the procedures firsthand. The two cadavers were both men. We had learned from Mr. Wilder earlier that County Coroners send bodies to this lab if they have any questions or doubts about the cause of death. The doctors remove all the organs and weigh them, then check for specific indicators related to the death. Both corpses were well into the autopsy process when we began watching and we were able to see the removal of the skull and brain. The doctors showed us several different organs, including the liver of an alcoholic, which was about 1,000 grams larger than the average size liver.
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| 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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Michael St. Clair
34 at the time
Male, White | Michael St. Clair escaped Oklahoma authorities in September of 1991 while awaiting final sentencing for two Oklahoma murder convictions. He carjacked a man in Colorado and then shot him. He then traveled to a Bullitt County rest-stop on October 6, 1991. There he carjacked a man and took him to an isolated area where he handcuffed him and shot him twice, killing him. St. Clair then returned to the rest-stop where he burned the man's car and shot at a state policeman while being apprehended.
St. Clair was sentenced to Death in Bullitt County on September 14, 1998. He also received a second Death sentence for Capital Kidnapping in Hardin County on February 20, 2001. In addition, St. Clair received four life sentences for the deaths of five people in Oklahoma.
That's what he did. He sentenced himself to death.
You're not going to believe this guy. First of all, he murdered five people in Oklahoma and two more in Kentucky. Now he's looking for not only a "pen pal" but financial donations. What a guy!
Michael St. Clair's Pen Pal Request:
"Hello" all my Christian Brothers and Sisters.
I am Michael Dale St. Clair, and I am on Death Row. My D.O.B. is 01-15-57, and I am single with no children.
I need your help so I can hire me an appeal attorney. I pray to you to ADOPT ME as a Christian Brother and give me any amount of donations that you can afford, so I can hire me an appeal attorney. I will send you a signed picture of me taken here on Death Row. I will also write you as a Pen Pal Brother, if you don't care. I have been locked up since May 1990, and this is the first time that I have asked anyone for money so I can hire me a private appeal attorney. I have not seen my family since I have been locked up in the State of Kentucky, because my family is poor and it is 1,274 miles round trip from my home state of Oklahoma (Durant). I get $25.00 per month as the Death Row Barber, and I use that for stamps, envelopes, and pictures. My home state is Oklahoma (Durant.) Anyone is more than welcome to write me, age and looks aren't the issue, only the person inside the body. I don't have any penpals :-( Nor have I ever asked for a penpal in the past.
God Bless you.
Thank you for whatever you can donate to me.
Editor's Comment: Apparently, St. Clair wants to "hire me an attorney" to help him on his appeal. Presumably to try to get him off Death Row and out of prison. Based on his criminal record, he's right where he needs to be, in prison forever. However, as a token of his appreciation, he says he'll send you an autographed picture of himself from Death Row. Wonder what that would bring on E-Bay? |
| Recent Court Case |
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Shoplifting 101
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Debbie Sue Henson, Defendant |
Richard Henson, Defendant |
On August 15, 2007, Lexington police responded to a shoplifting complaint in the Hamburg area. Debbie Sue Henson, 46, and Richard Henson, 41, were observed by store security stuffing clothes into a large black tote bag. At one point the video showed the suspects jumping up and down on the bag to fit more items inside. Security officers stopped the suspects after they left the store and recovered the bag, which was stuffed with approximately $750 worth of merchandise. Both suspects confessed to the crime.
Criminal records show that Richard Henson has one prior felony and 15 prior misdemeanor convictions including Theft, DUI, Harassment, Assault, and Criminal Trespassing. He pled guilty to felony Theft by Unlawful Taking and was sentenced to two years, probated for 4 years. Debbie Henson has no criminal history. She also pled guilty and was sentenced to one year, conditionally discharged for three years. |
| Lexington's Unsolved Homicide Cases |
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Pamela Lynn Mansell, Victim | VICTIM - PAMELA LYNN MANSELL
Date of Birth: 09/01/1966
Location: 3600 Briar Hill Road
Date Found: 11/08/2001
Report #: 01-210046 HEIGHT: 5'2"
WEIGHT: 142
HAIR: Brown
EYES: Blue
Crime Synopsis: On the morning of November 8, 2001, a newspaper delivery person discovered the unclothed body of Pamela Lynn Mansell lying in the grass beside a driveway on rural Briar Hill Road. The victim died as a result of strangulation.
NOTICE: Do not attempt to apprehend any person or persons who are suspects in this homicide. If you have any information pertaining to this homicide, contact the Lexington Division of Police, Bureau of Investigations, at 258-3700 or E-mail: detective@lfucg.com. |
| 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. |
| Who Is On Home Incarceration In Lexington? |
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| Convicted Criminals In The Home Incarceration Program (HIP) in Lexington
Inmates who are nearing the end of their sentences can be placed into the Home Incarceration Program (HIP) under certain circumstances. Offenders who are part of this program are technically still incarcerated; however, they are placed in the community under electronic monitoring rather than being behind the walls of a correctional facility.
To learn the identity of the inmates presently in the Home Incarceration Program in our community, click here. |
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Fayette Circuit Court Sentencings
Thursday, July 3, 2008 |
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| 3rd Division - Judge James Ishmael | |
| GIVENS, Marco Marcelle
Age: 18 |
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| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of 1st Degree Attempted Possession of a Controlled Substance, 12 months in jail for Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon, and 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Criminal Attempt to Tampering with Physical Evidence, to run concurrently for a total of 12 months in jail. In a separate case, sentenced to 2 years in prison for the prosecution's amended charge of 1st Degree Possession of a Controlled Substance, to run consecutive with the above charges, for a total of 2 years in prison and 12 months in jail. Sent to prison. | |
| HUFFMAN, Jamar Delanea
Age: 20 |
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| Sentenced to 5 years in prison for 1st Degree Trafficking in Cocaine, 1st Offense and 3 years in prison for Possession of a Controlled Substance, to run concurrently for a total of 5 years in prison. Sent to prison. | |
| NAIR, Sameer
Age: 21
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| Sentenced to 3 years in prison for 1st Degree Wanton Endangerment and 14 days in jail for Operating a Motor Vehicle under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, 2nd Offense, to run concurrently for a total of 3 years in prison, diverted for 5 years. | |
| SPAULDING, Richard
Age: 27
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| Sentenced to 12 months in jail for the prosecution's amended charge of Non Support, probated for 2 years. | |
| 4th Division - Judge Pamela Goodwine | |
| BRYANT, Brandon Montez
Age: 25 |
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| Sentenced to 1 year in prison for 3rd Degree Rape, probated for 5 years. | |
| EDWARDS, Kareem M.
Age: 29
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| Sentenced to 30 years in prison for Murder. Sent to prison. | |
| LYNEM, Roy L.
Age: 29
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| REPEAT OFFENDER Sentenced to 10 years in prison for 2nd Degree Escape and status as a Persistent Felony Offender. Sent to prison. | |
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