Date: 07-22-2019

Pikeville man indicted for allegedly giving marijuana, alcohol to children

A Pikeville man arrested late last month on endangerment and unlawful transaction with a minor charges has been indicted by a Pike grand jury.

According to court documents, the grand jury handed down a three-count indictment against Anthony Baker, 51, of Hambley Boulevard, charging him with a class D felony count of second-degree unlawful transaction with a minor and misdemeanor counts of third-degree unlawful transaction with a minor and second-degree wanton endangerment. According to court documents, the charges were presented to a grand jury Wednesday by a representative from the Kentucky Office of Attorney General and are in relation to incidents which allegedly occurred in late May and early June.

Pike Commonwealth’s Attorney Bill Slone told the News-Express that the felony unlawful transaction charge is in relation to activity Baker allegedly took part in with his teenage son. Slone said that on or about June 6, Baker supplied his son with marijuana. The misdemeanor unlawful transaction charge, Slone said, is related to an incident or incidents on or about May 25 when Baker allegedly provided alcohol to three different juveniles, whose names have been intentionally omitted from this report.

The misdemeanor wanton endangerment charge, Slone said, is related to an incident which also occurred on May 25 at Baker’s residence. Slone said Baker hosted a party and juveniles were present when a disturbance broke out.

“He had a big party at his residence and it ended up almost in a riot,” Slone said. “According to the police, there were about 50 people there, including at least one 15-year-old boy.”

Slone said Pikeville Police officers arrived at the scene at approximately 5:30 a.m. after receiving a call of a disturbance and the situation escalated from there with some people present at the party allegedly fighting with police and fleeing from officers.

Slone said the situation escalated so greatly that the Pikeville Police Department’s first shift had to be called in to work early to assist.

Slone said Baker was also arrested at the scene after causing a disturbance himself.

By Chris Anderson
Appalachian News-Express