Murder charge included in Lawrence County Grand Jury Indictments 7/14/2020

Lawrence County Grand Jury Indictments

7/14/2020

Here are the latest indictments handed down by the current Lawrence Grand Jury:

Commonwealth vs. Christopher L. Bailey

The Grand Jury charges that on or before April 9, 2020 in Lawrence County, Ky, the above-named defendant:

1. Christopher L. Bailey committed the offense of murder when he intentionally caused the death of JoBeth Butcher.

Christopher Bailey was indicted on July 14, 2020 for the murder of his wife JoBeth Butcher.  According to court documents, Christopher Bailey, of Louisa took his wife JoBeth Butcher to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment on April 9, 2020.  The documents state when investigators arrived, they noticed wounds on Butcher’s body that appeared to be from an assault. Investigators say a nurse also showed pictures of Butcher’s wounds that included large bruises all over her body, appearing to have been from a violent encounter. Investigators talked to Bailey and he told them the bruises weren’t from him but he did state he had been in an altercation with Butcher causing some injuries to her body.  Investigators asked about the other bruises on his wife’s body and he had no explanation, according to court documents. Bailey was initially charged with Assault 4th degree minor injury but was then amended to murder after Butcher died from her injuries on April 10,2020. Bailey was then arrest on April 11,2020 by Lawrence County Deputy Dwayne Bowens is currently being held at Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.

Commonwealth vs. Rodney Robertson

The Grand Jury charges that on or before June 17, 2020 in Lawrence County, Ky, the above-named defendant:

1.  Rodney Robertson acting alone or in complicity with Chester Blevins Jr. and Samantha Thompson committed the offense of importing Heroin by knowingly and unlawfully transporting any quantity of Heroin into the Commonwealth by any means with the intent to sell or distribute the Heroin.

Commonwealth vs. Samantha Thompson 

The Grand Jury charges that on or before June 17, 2020 in Lawrence County, Ky, the above-named defendant:

1. Samantha Thompson acting alone or in complicity with Chester Blevins Jr. and Rodney Robertson committed the offense of importing Heroin by knowingly and unlawfully transporting any quantity of Heroin into the Commonwealth by any means with the intent to sell or distribute the Heroin.

Commonwealth vs. Chester Blevins Jr.

The Grand Jury charges that on or before June 17, 2020 in Lawrence County, Ky, the above-named defendant:

1. Chester Blevins Jr.  acting alone or in complicity with Samantha Thompson and Rodney Robertson committed the offense of importing Heroin by knowingly and unlawfully transporting any quantity of Heroin into the Commonwealth by any means with the intent to sell or distribute the Heroin.

2. Chester Blevins Jr. committed the offense of possession of a controlled substance in the 1st degree by knowingly and unlawfully being in possession of a controlled substance, Heroin.

3. Chester Blevins Jr. committed the offense of operating on a suspended or revoked operator’s license by knowingly and unlawfully operating a motor vehicle upon a Kentucky roadway while his operator’s license was suspended or revoked.

4. The above name defendant committed the violation of no/expired registration plates by knowingly and unlawfully operating a motor vehicle upon a Kentucky roadway without proper registration.

Commonwealth vs. Homer Hale Jr.

The Grand Jury charges that on or before December 25, 2019 in Lawrence County, Ky, the above-named defendant:

1. Homer Hale Jr. committed the offense of burglary in the 2nd degree by knowingly and unlawfully entering the dwelling house located on Wheeler Branch in Blaine, Ky owned by Mr. Ryan Hamiliton with the intent therein to commit the crime of theft.

2. Homer Hale Jr. committed the offense of possession of a controlled substance in the 1st degree by knowingly and unlawfully being in possession of a controlled substance, Methamphetamine.

3. The above-named defendant committed the offense of possession of drug paraphernalia by knowingly and unlawfully being in possession of a syringe containing chemical residue and plastic baggies.

4. The above-named defendant committed the offense of receiving stolen property under $500 by knowingly and unlawfully being in possession of stolen items, with a value under $500 stolen from property owned by Mr. Ryan Hamiliton.

Commonwealth vs. Carrie Wages 

The Grand Jury charges that on or before June 19, 2020 in Lawrence County, Ky, the above-named defendant:

1. Carrie Wages committed the offense of possession of a controlled substance in the 1st degree by knowingly and unlawfully being in possession of a controlled substance, Methamphetamine.

2. The above-named defendant committed the offense of tampering with physical evidence by knowingly and unlawfully destroying, removing, alternating, or concealing physical evidence that she believed would be used against her in an official proceeding.

3. The above-named defendant committed the offense of use/possession of drug paraphernalia by knowingly and unlawfully being in possession of two syringes.

Commonwealth vs. Tammy Jo Evans

The Grand Jury charges that on or before April 30, 2020 in Lawrence County, Ky, the above-named defendant:

1. Tammy Jo Evans acting alone or in complicity with Joseph A. Davis committed the offense of burglary in the 2nd degree by knowingly and unlawfully entering the dwelling house located on Newcombe Lane in Louisa, Ky owned by Mr. Alan Sanders with the intent herein to commit the crime of theft.

2. The above-named defendant is now being charged as a persistent felony offender in the 1st degree.

3. The above-named defendant acting alone or in complicity with Joseph A. Davis committed the offense of receiving stolen property under $500 by knowingly and unlawfully being in possession of numerous curtains, a light fixture and light switch cover plates and switch plate covers with a value of $500 stolen from the property owned by Mr. Alan Sanders.

4. The above-named defendant acting alone or in complicity with Joseph A. Davis committed the offense of criminal mischief in the 3rd degree by knowingly and unlawfully damaging property owned by Mr. Alan Sanders on Newcombe Lane in Louisa, Ky.

Commonwealth vs. Joseph A.Davis 

The Grand Jury charges that on or before April 30, 2020 in Lawrence County, Ky, the above-named defendant:

1. Joseph A. Davis acting alone or in complicity with Tammy Jo Evans committed the offense of burglary in the 2nd degree by knowingly and unlawfully entering the dwelling house located on Newcombe Lane in Louisa, Ky owned by Mr. Alan Sanders with the intent herein to commit the crime of theft.

2. The above-named defendant acting alone or in complicity with Tammy Jo Evans committed the offense of receiving stolen property under $500 by knowingly and unlawfully being in possession of numerous curtains, a light fixture and light switch cover plates and switch plate covers with a value of $500 stolen from the property owned by Mr. Alan Sanders.

3. The above-named defendant acting alone or in complicity with Tammy Jo Evans committed the offense of criminal mischief in the 3rd degree by knowingly and unlawfully damaging property owned by Mr. Alan Sanders on Newcombe Lane in Louisa, Ky.

Commonwealth vs. Josh Douglas

The Grand Jury charges that on or before May 22, 2020 in Lawrence County, Ky, the above-named defendant:

1. Josh Douglas committed the offense of criminal mischief in the 1st degree by knowingly and unlawfully damaged property, a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer owned by Car City (Mr. Richard Dotson) of Louisa, Ky with the amount of damages exceeding $1,000.00.

2. Josh Douglas committed the offense of criminal mischief in the 1st degree by knowingly and unlawfully damaged property, a 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan owned by Car City (Mr. Richard Dotson) of Louisa, Ky with the amount of damages exceeding $2,000.00

3. Josh Douglas committed the offense of criminal mischief in the 1st degree by knowingly and unlawfully damaged property, a 2001 Ford F150 owned by Car City (Mr. Richard Dotson) of Louisa, Ky with the amount of damages exceeding $1,000.00

4. Josh Douglas committed the offense of criminal mischief in the 1st degree by knowingly and unlawfully damaged property, a 2009 Honda Odyssey owned by Car City (Mr. Richard Dotson) of Louisa, Ky with the amount of damages exceeding $2,000.00.

5. The above-named defendant is now being charged as a persistent felony offender in the 2nd degree.

6. The above-named defendant committed the offense of public intoxication (excluding alcohol) by knowingly and unlawfully appearing in a public setting manifestly under the influence of a controlled substance or other drugs.

Commonwealth vs.Cody Harless

The Grand Jury charges that on or before May 2, 2020 in Lawrence County, Ky, the above-named defendant:

1. Cody Harless committed the offense of trafficking in a controlled substance in the 1st degree by knowingly and unlawfully being in possession of Methamphetamine, $166.00 in cash, digital scales, a glass pipe, and altered straws with the intent to traffic in that Methamphetamine, or by trafficking in that said Methamphetamine, or by trafficking in that said Methamphetamine while within 1000 yards of Louisa East Elementary School.

2. The above-named defendant committed the offense of public intoxication (excluding alcohol) by knowingly and unlawfully appearing in a public setting manifestly under the influence of controlled substances or other drugs.

Commonwealth vs. Shannon Jude 

The Grand Jury charges that on or before March 14, 2020 in Lawrence County, Ky, the above-named defendant:

1. Shannon Jude committed the offense of escape in the 2nd degree by knowingly and unlawfully escaping the custody of the 24th Judicial Circuit Community Corrections Program by fleeing his registered residence where he was being monitored by his ankle device, after being placed on court ordered home incarceration as part of sentencing guidelines from Lawrence Circuit Court.

2. The above-named defendant is now being charged as a persistent felony offender in the 1st degree.

Commonwealth vs. Paul T. Hackney

The Grand Jury charges that on or before May 22, 2020 in Lawrence County, Ky, the above-named defendant:

1. Paul T. Hackney committed the offense of receiving stolen property under $10,000.00 by knowingly and unlawfully being in possession of a stolen vehicle, stolen from the state of West Virginia, with a value exceeding $500.00

2. The above-named defendant committed the offense of selling or receiving a vehicle with removed or altered VIN by knowingly and unlawfully being in possession of a stolen vehicle with an altered VIN plate.

Commonwealth vs. Joey Davis

The Grand Jury charges that on or before July 3, 2020 in Lawrence County, Ky, the above-named defendant:

1. Joey Davis acting alone or in complicity with David Harmon committed the offense of trafficking in a controlled substance in the 1st degree by knowingly and unlawfully being in possession of .054 grams of Methamphetamine and $759.00 in cash, with the intent to traffic in that controlled substance or by trafficking in a controlled substance, namely Methamphetamine.

2. Joey Davis committed the offense of tampering with physical evidence by knowingly and unlawfully destroying, removing, altering or concealing physical evidence that he believed would be used against him in an official proceeding.

3. The above-named defendant acting alpine or in complicity with David Harmon committed the offense of possession/use drug paraphernalia by knowingly and unlawfully being in possession of two syringes.

Commonwealth vs. David Harmon

The Grand Jury charges that on or before July 3, 2020 in Lawrence County, Ky, the above-named defendant:

1. David Harmon  acting alone or in complicity with Joey Davis  committed the offense of trafficking in a controlled substance in the 1st degree by knowingly and unlawfully being in possession of .054 grams of Methamphetamine and $759.00 in cash, with the intent to traffic in that controlled substance or by trafficking in a controlled substance, namely Methamphetamine.

2. David Harmon committed the offense of possession of a controlled substance in the 3rd degree by knowingly and unlawfully being in possession of Suboxone.

3. The above-named defendant acting alpine or in complicity with Joey Davis committed the offense of possession/use drug paraphernalia by knowingly and unlawfully being in possession of two syringes.