By Tonia Noe-Rose - Staff Writer
A Rowan County grand jury handed down 16 indictments July 18 in connection to charges of first-degree robbery, trafficking in controlled substances and food stamp fraud.
Gary E. Stamper, 43, was charged with first-degree robbery and terroristic threatening July 6, after he allegedly walked into the Texaco Station in Morehead and attempted to steal two cartons of cigarettes while allegedly telling the clerk he had a weapon.
Police said Stamper used the threat of a gun to threaten the store employee when attempting to walk out of the facility without paying for the merchandise.
Stamper also is charged with resisting arrest when he tried to prevent police from arresting him.
“He never showed a gun, but gave threat to having one and that’s where the first-degree robbery comes in at,” said Morehead Police Chief Mike Adams. “After investigating, he fought with officer Sgt. Erik Caudill when they went to take him in, but the officers were able to take him into custody and no one was injured.”
Stamper could face 10 to 20 years in prison if found guilty on the robbery charge.
A grand jury indictment is a formal accusation of a crime and does not establish guilt.
Other indictments include:
• Jessie Hawkins, 26, one charge of promoting contraband when he allegedly, May 9, introduced dangerous contraband Hydrocodone into the Rowan County Detention Center and one charge of second-degree possession of a controlled substance, Hydrocodone. Both charges each carry one to five years in jail.
• Tony R. Jones, 52, one charge, May 13, of first-degree possession of a controlled substance Oxycodone, first offense (carries one to five years in jail if convicted); one charge of second-degree possession of a controlled substance, Hydrocodone; one charge of drug paraphernalia, first offense and one charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. (Misdemeanors).
• Glenna Gilliam, 35, one charge of second-degree possession, April 18, of a controlled substance Amphetamine, first offense (Misdemeanor); one charge of third-degree possession of a controlled substance Alprazolm, first offense (Misdemeanor); one charge of first-degree possession of a controlled substance Oxycodone, first offense (carries one to five years if convicted); one charge of possession of a controlled substance not in proper container, first offense (Misdemeanor);one charge of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance Oxycodone, first offense (carries five to 10 years in prison if convicted); one charge of third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance Alprazolam, first offense (carries five to 10 years); one charge of trafficking in a controlled substance Oxycodone within 1,000 yards of a school (carries one to five years) and one charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, Digiweigh digital scale (Misdemeanor.)
• Jessie R. Wallace, 19, one charge of first-degree promoting contraband, May 18, when he allegedly introduced Alprazolam into the Rowan County Detention Center. The charge carries one to five years in jail if found guilty.
• Robert Garvin, 37, one charge of first-degree trafficking, April 18, in a controlled substance Oxycodone (five to 10 years in prison if convicted); one charge of third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance Alprazolam, first offense (carries five to 10 years); one charge of trafficking in a control substance Oxycodone within 1,000 yards of a school (one to five years); one charge of first-degree possession of a controlled substance Oxycodone, first offense (one to five years); one charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, Digiweigh digital scale (Misdemeanor) and one charge of second-degree persistent felony offender (enhances charges).
• Todd L. Wages, 36, one charge of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, March 19, when he allegedly possessed a forged check in the amount of $50 drawn on the account of Stephen and Angela Stidham at the Traditional Bank of Mt. Sterling, bearing the forged signature of Stephen Stidham was passed at Fin, Fur and Feather of Farmers. The charge carries one to five years in jail if convicted.
• Wilson Lee Thomas Jr., 45, one charge of flagrant nonsupport from Sept. 1, 2004 through June 30, 2008, when he allegedly failed to provide support for a minor child for which he was under a court order to do so in the amount of $11,031.88. Carries one to five years if convicted.
• Spencer A. Taylor, a/k/a, Taylor A. Spencer, 33, one charge of operating of motor vehicle while license revoked or suspended for driving under the influence (one to five years); one charge of operating a motor vehicle when he was allegedly found to be under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants, third offense in five years. (Misdemeanor.)
• Judy O’Neal, 30, one charge of food stamp fraud from June 2005 through May 2007, when she allegedly made false statement and failed to disclose material factors affecting her eligibility and did receive $3,416 in benefits to which she was not entitled; one charge of Medicaid fraud from March 2007 through May 2007 when she allegedly made false statement and failed to disclose material factors affecting her eligibility and did receive $652.12 in benefits to which she was not entitled; one charge of KTAP (Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program) benefit fraud from May 2006 to May 2007 when she allegedly made false statement and failed to disclose material affecting her eligibility and did receive $1,180 in benefits to which she was not entitled. Each charge carries one to five years if convicted.
• Carl Phillip Ricer, 31, one charge of receiving stolen property over $300 when he allegedly was in possession of jewelry valued at $3,900 belonging to Roger S. Lewis. Carries one to five years.
• Travis Wallace, 25, one charge of receiving stolen property over $300 when he allegedly was in possession of a Goodman air conditioning unit valued at $4,000 as well as a damage repair estimate of $1,800 belonging at the rental property of Robert Strausbaugh Jr. Carries one to five years.
• Jason Damron, 31, one charge of flagrant nonsupport from April 29, 2003 to June 30, 2008, when he allegedly failed to provide child support for a minor child for which he was under court order to do so in the amount of $5,570.52. Carries one to five years.
• Matthew C. Ray, 26, eight counts of second-degree criminal possession of forged instruments when he allegedly possessed eight forged checks bearing the forged signature of Steve Castle and passed them at various businesses in Rowan County. The checks were passed at the Gem Mart BP ($38.16, $13.74, $4.99, $2.45 and $51.58), Lowes of Morehead ($74.16), Kroger of Morehead ($48.61) and Wal-Mart of Morehead ($302.16). If convicted each charge carries one to five years in jail.
• Troy M Brake, 24, one charge of first-degree fleeing and evading police when he allegedly disobeyed a direction to stop the vehicle after receiving visual and audible signals from Morehead Police officer Brad Gillock, and by fleeing, Brake caused or created a substantial risk of serious physical injury or death to any person or property (if convicted the charge carries one to five years); one charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, third offense in five years; one charge of resisting arrest when he allegedly tried to prevent the officer from arresting him and one charge of operating a motor vehicle while license revoked or suspended, third offense in five years. (Misdemeanors.)
• Warren D. Flannery, 62, one charge of first-degree wanton endangerment when he allegedly came toward Morehead Police officer Mark Hammonds with a weapon, which created a substantial danger or death or serious or physical injury to the officer. If convicted the charge carries one to fives years in jail.
