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| Issue
#11 |
February
13, 2008 |
|
Greetings
Kenton County!
The men and women
of the Commonwealth's Attorney Office
are always working hard to keep Kenton
County safe. This newsletter is
intended to keep all interested parties
up to date on the latest in prosecution
and law enforcement news. If you
have any questions or would like
additional information about the cases
you see in this email, please call (859)
292-6580 or email the Commonwealth's
Attorney Office at robsanders@kentonprosecutor.com
.
|
| GUILTY |
|
Commonwealth
v. Harold Houston
Judge:
Summe
Prosecutors:
Laura Ward
Police
Agency: Kenton Co. Police
In July, 2007, a teenage relative of
Harold Houston reported to authorities
that Houston had been molesting her
since she was less than 12 years old.
Kenton County Police Detective Steve
Benner began an investigation.
Benner was able to determine that the
more serious acts, Class A felonies (those
that occurred when the child was >12
years old), occurred in Grant County at
Houston's former residence. Benner
determined that additional offenses
constituting Class B felonies did,
however, occur in Kenton County.
Benner confronted Houston with the
allegations and after much discussion
Houston confessed to the sex acts.
Houston was indicted by the Kenton
County Grand Jury for 1st Degree Rape, 3
counts of 1st Degree Sodomy, 4 counts of
Incest, and 2 counts of Sexual Abuse, in
July of 2008. On 2/11/08 Houston
entered a guilty plea to all charges.
Asst. Commonwealth's Attorney Laura Ward
is recommending that Houston serve 30
years in prison. Houston would
have to serve 85% of the sentence before
being parole eligible. Final
sentencing is set for 4/22/08.
Houston still faces additional felony
charges in Grant County.
|
| GUILTY |
|
Commonwealth
v. Harry
Strickland
Judge: Bartlett
Prosecutor: James
T. Redwine
Police Agency: Covington
On 11/3/07 a 23 year old man from
Erlanger was spending the evening at
the Venus Show Lounge in Covington.
His paramour arrived and was
not happy with her boyfriend's
choice of venues for his
entertainment and she demanded that
he leave with her. On their
way down Madison Avenue the argument
continued until she threw him out of
the car. The man walked to the
Sunoco Gas Station at 13th and
Madison in Covington and made a
purchase. While at the case
register three men approached the
man and asked for a cigarette then
noted aloud that he had an awful lot
of money in his pocket. As the
man left the gas station, the three
approached him again, only this time
one had a gun. As that suspect
held the victim at gunpoint, Harry
Strickland took the money out of the
victim's pockets. One of the
three told the victim not to call
the police or they would shoot him
and they walked away.
Shortly thereafter Covington Police
Officer Chris Dees happened onto the
Sunoco lot during regular patrol.
The victim stopped Dees and told him
what happened. Dees noticed
that the three suspects who had been
standing near a payphone on the
opposite end of the lot were now
hurrying away. One of the
suspects ran down Madison Avenue and
was never caught. Dees stopped
Strickland and the suspect who
reportedly had the gun on East 13th
Street and ordered them to the
ground at gunpoint. Once
additional officers arrived, Dees
went back to where the three had
been standing and recovered what
turned out to be a pellet gun
discarded in the grass. A
search of Strickland's person
produced the victim's money, mostly
singles.
Strickland and his co-defendant were
charged with Robbery. On
2/15/08 Strickland pled guilty to
2nd Degree Robbery. Asst.
Commonwealth's Attorney James T.
Redwine is recommending an 8 year
sentence. Final sentencing is
set for 3/31/08.
|
| GUILTY
VERDICT |
|
Commonwealth
v. Domenico S. Vilardo
Judge: Sheehan
Prosecutor: Rob Sanders
Police Agency:
Covington
On April 2, 2007
Covington Police received a call
for a man with a gun making threats in the
1600 block of Garrard Street.
Covington Police Officer James Miskanin
responded and observed a man matching
the description of the gunman walking
away from the scene. Miskanin
exited his car and ordered the man to
the ground at gunpoint. Rather
than following the officer's commands,
the man kept walking towards the officer
and reached for his waistband.
Miskanin could clearly see the outline
of the gun's handle through the man's
shirt. But for a group of people
standing on the sidewalk further
down the block behind the defendant, the
man likely would have been shot by the
officer. Instead he took off
running down Garrard, turned onto East
16th Street, and then turned again onto
Collins Street before cutting
behind some houses. Miskanin gave
chase and called out the direction of
the pursuit on the police radio.
As the man ran through the back yards he
tossed the gun under a bush.
Miskanin chased the man out
from between two of the houses and back
into Collins street where the man
was nearly hit by a police car driven by
Officer David Hoyle who was responding
to assist. Miskanin and Hoyle took
the suspect into custody at which time
Miskanin ran back into the yard and
recovered the discarded handgun.
The suspect was identified as Domenico
Sergio Vilardo. A criminal history
check revealed that Vilardo, 24, had
been convicted of 4 separate felonies.
The first prior felony was actually
committed on Vilardo's 18th birthday
when he was found driving a stolen car.
Vilardo was indicted by the Kenton
County Grand Jury for Possession of a
Handgun by a Convicted Felon and
Persistent Felony Offender 1st Degree in
May, 2007. Vilardo was scheduled
to stand trial on 2/13/08 but on the
morning of trial and with the jury
waiting in the hallway, Vilardo
announced his intention to plead guilty
to the handgun charge and waive a jury
trial on the persistent felon charge,
choosing to instead take his chances
with Judge Martin Sheehan. After 3
1/2 hours of testimony from an officer
from the Dept. of Probation and Parole
and legal arguments, Sheehan found
Vilardo guilty of Persistent Felony
Offender 1st Degree. Sentencing is
scheduled for 4/1/08.
Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders is
recommending the maximum sentence of 20
years. Regardless of the sentence
ultimately imposed by the court, Vilardo
must, by law, serve 10 years day for day
without the benefit of any "good
time" before being eligible for
parole. Sanders called Vilardo
"one of the most dangerous people
in Kenton County" and said he had
never seen such a long criminal history
on such a young defendant.
Vilardo's priors include 1st Degree
Wanton Endangerment and 2 convictions
for Possession of a Controlled Substance
(cocaine).
While in jail awaiting trial, Vilardo
also got into a fight with detention
center deputies who requested that he
submit to a drug test. During the
fight, Vilardo began to shout racial
slurs at an African-American deputy and
then attempted to spit blood on him.
The blood missed its intended target but
landed on 2 other deputies.
For that encounter, Vilardo was indicted
for 3 counts of 3rd Degree Assault on a
Peace Officer and Persistent Felony
Offender 1st Degree. The 3rd
Degree assault charges carry penalties
of 1-5 years which would be enhanced to
10-20 years if convicted of the
persistent felon charge. That case
is scheduled for a trial setting on
2/25/08. Any sentence Vilardo
receives must, by law, be served
consecutive to the sentence imposed for
the previous charge.
|
| EDITOR'S
NOTE |
|
| NO
4th Division Docket This Week
Due to the President's Day Holiday and
staff scheduling, there was no docket in
the 4th Division this week.
Regular 4th Division docket will resume
next week.
|
| Other
Guilty Pleas & Sentencings |
|
Commonwealth
v. Joseph Putman
Judge:
Sheehan
Prosecutor: Alysha
McKinney
Police
Agency: Covington
On 2/19/08 Putman pled guilty to
Possession of a controlled substance
(cocaine). Asst. Commonwealth's
Attorney Alysha McKinney is recommending
a 2 year prison sentence. Final
sentencing is set for 3/18/08.
Commonwealth
v. Tiffany
Cobb 
Judge: Sheehan
Prosecutor: Rob
Sanders
Police Agency: Edgewood
On 12/18/07 Cobb pled guilty to
Possession of a Forged Instrument.
Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders
recommended that Cobb, who has no prior
felony record, be ordered into the
Felony Diversion Program for 2 1/2
years. On 2/19/08 Cobb was
ordered into the diversion program for 2
1/2 years. Cobb faces 1-5
years if she fails diversion.
Commonwealth
v. Jessica Antoni
Judge:
Sheehan
Prosecutor: Leanne
Isler
Police Agency: Covington
On 2/15/08 Antoni pled guilty to Theft
(>$300). Asst. Commonwealth's
Attorney Leanne Isler is recommending
that Antoni, who has no prior criminal
record, be ordered into the felony
diversion program for 2 years.
Final sentencing is set for 3/18/08.
Commonwealth
v. James A. Brown
Judge:
Sheehan
Prosecutor: Leanne
Isler
Police Agency: Ft. Wright
On 2/19/08 Brown pled guilty to
Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card.
Asst. Commonwealth's Attorney Leanne
Isler is recommending that Brown,
who has no prior criminal record, be
ordered into the felony diversion
program for 2 years. Final
sentencing is set for 3/18/08.
Commonwealth
v. Raymond A. Cook
Judge:
Summe
Prosecutor: Amy
Burke
Police Agency: Kenton
Co. Child Support
On
2/19/08 Cook pled guilty to
Flagrant Non-Support. Asst.
Commonwealth's Attorney Amy
Burke is recommending a
sentence of 3 years probated
for 5 years on the condition
that the Defendant serve 6 months
in the county jail. Final
sentencing is 3/18/08.
Commonwealth
v. Dorothy Ingram
Judge:
Summe
Prosecutor: Laura
Ward
Police Agency:
Covington
On 2/22/08 Ingram pled
guilty to Assault 2nd Degree. Ingram
is facing 5 - 10 years in
prison. Final sentencing
is 4/22/08.
Commonwealth
v. Roberta S. Gamble
Judge:
Summe
Prosecutor: James
T. Redwine
Police Agency:
Kenton Co. Sheriff
On 2/11/08 Gamble
pled guilty to Promoting
Contraband and Loitering
for the Purposes of
Prostitution.
Asst. Commonwealth's
Attorney Jim Redwine is
recommending a sentence
of 1 year to serve.
Final sentencing is set
for 4/22/08.
Commonwealth
v. Darvin Hicks
Judge:
Summe
Prosecutor: Amy
Burke
Police
Agency: Kenton
Co. Child
Support
On 2/11/08 Hicks
pled guilty to
Flagrant
Non-Support.
Asst.
Commonwealth's
Attorney Amy
Burke is
recommending a
sentence of 5
years probated
for 5 years on
the condition
that the
defendant serve
6 months in jail.
Final sentencing
is set for
4/22/08.
Commonwealth
v. Brandon
Daunt
Judge:
Bartlett
Prosecutor: Leanne
Isler
Police
Agency:
Ludlow
On
2/15/08
Daunt
pled
guilty
to Receiving
Stolen
Property
(>$300).
Asst.
Commonwealth's
Attorney
Leanne
Isler is
recommending
a 1
year
sentence,
consecutive
to
Daunt's
other 2
felony
sentences
for a
total of
16 years
in
prison.
Final
sentencing
is
3/31/08.
Commonwealth
v. Donte
Black
Judge:
Summe
Prosecutor: Jason
Kinser
Police
Agency: Covington
On
2/11/08
Black
pled
guilty
to
Trafficking
in
a
Controlled
Substance
(cocaine).
Asst.
Commonwealth's
Attorney
Jason
Kinser
is
recommending
a
sentence
of 8
years.
Final
sentencing
is
set
for
4/22/08.
Commonwealth
v.
Sascha
Starkey
Judge:
Summe
Prosecutor: Jason
Kinser
Police
Agency:
Covington
On
2/11/08,
Starkey
pled
guilty
to
Fascilitation
of
Trafficking
in
a
Controlled
Substance.
Assistant
Commonwealth's
Attorney
Jason
Kinser
is
recommending
a
sentence
of
12
months,
conditionally
discharged
for
2
years.
Final
sentencing
is
set
for
4/22/08.
Commonwealth
v. Dwayne
Heard
Judge:
Bartlett
Prosecutor: Joseph
Meadows
Police
Agency: Covington
On
2/15/08
Heard
pled
guilty
to
Possession
of
a
Controlled
Substance
(cocaine).
Asst.
Commonwealth's
Attorney
Joe
Meadows
is
recommended
that
Heard,
who
has
no
prior
criminal
record,
be
ordered
into
the
felony
diversion
program
for
2
years.
Heard
ordered
Heard
into
the
felony
diversion
program
for
2
years.
Commonwealth
v. Tanika
Roberts
Judge:
Bartlett
Prosecutor: Sharif
Abdrabbo
Police
Agency: Bartlett
On
2/15/08
Roberts
pled
guilty
to
Possession
of
a
Controlled
Substance
(cocaine)
and
Possession
of
Drug
Paraphernalia
2nd
Offense.
Asst.
Commonwealth's
Attorney
Sharif
Abdrabbo
is
recommended
a
sentence
of
1
year
probated
for
3
years.
Final
sentencing
is
set
for
3/31/08.
Commonwealth
v. Joseph
E.
Smith
Judge:
Sheehan
Prosecutor: Leanne
Isler
Police
Agency: Ft.
Mitchell
On
1/15/08 Smith
pled
guilty
to
Terroristic
Threatening
(bomb
threat).
Asst.
Commonwealth's
Attorney
Leanne
Isler
recommended
a
sentence
of
2
years probated
for
2
years.
On
2/19/08 Smith
was
sentenced
to
2
years
probated
for
2
years
and
restitution
to
the
City
of
Ft.
Mitchell.
Commonwealth
v. Timothy
Tucker
Judge:
Sheehan
Prosecutor: Joseph
Meadows
Police
Agency: Covington
On
2/19/08
Tucker
pled
guilty
to
Receiving
Stolen
Property
(>$300).
Asst.
Commonwealth's
Attorney
Joe
Meadows
is
recommending
a
sentence
of
1
year
in
prison.
Final
sentencing
is
set
for
3/18/08.
Commonwealth
v. Paula
Warrick
Judge:
Sheehan
Prosecutor: Sharif
Abdrabbo
Police
Agency: Ft.
Mitchell
On
2/12/08
Warrick
pled
guilty
to
Possession
of
a
Controlled
Substance
(cocaine).
Asst.
Commonwealth's
Attorney
Sharif
Abdrabbo
recommended
a
sentence
of
2
years
probated
for
3
years.
On
2/19/08
Warrick
was
sentenced
to
2
years
probated
for
3
years.
Commonwealth
v. James
W.
Meier
Judge:
Summe
Prosecutor: Joseph
Meadows
Police
Agency: Covington
On
2/19/08
Meier
pled
guilty
to
Possession
of
a
Controlled
Substance
(cocaine).
Asst.
Commonwealth's
Attorney
Joe
Meadows
is
recommending
a
1
year
prison
sentence.
Final
sentencing
is
set
for
2/26/08.
Commonwealth
v. Tasha
Simpson
Judge:
Bartlett
Prosecutor: Sharif
Abdrabbo
Police
Agency: Covington
On
2/13/08
Simpson
pled
guilty
to
an
amended
charge
of
2nd
Degree
Unlawful
Transaction
With
a
Minor
without
the
benefit
of
a
plea
agreement.
Simpson
faces
1-5
years
in
prison
at
sentencing
on
3/24/08.
Commonwealth
v. Charles
Weider
Judge:
Bartlett
Prosecutor: Joseph
Meadows
Police
Agency:
Covington
On
2/13/08,
Weider
pled
guilty
to
Cultivation
of
Marijuana.
Asst.
Commonwealth's
Attorney
Joe
Meadows
is
recommended
that
Weider,
who
has
no
prior
criminal
history,
be
ordered
into
the
felony
diversion
program
for
3
years.
Weider
was
sentenced
to
3
years
in
the
felony
diversion
program.
|
| FAILED
TO APPEAR/WANTED: |
|
Kevin S. Johnson
Bond $10,000
Original Charge(s):
Burglary 2nd Degree
Ronnie
Malone
Bond:
$5000
Original Charge(s):
Poss. of a Controlled Substance
(cocaine)
Tampering With Evidence
Brenda
Harris
Bond:
$5,000
Original Charge(s):
Obtaining Controlled Substance by
Fraud
Benjamin
H. Brown II
Bond:
$5,000
Original Charge(s):
Burglary 3rd Degree
Receiving Stolen Property
Possession of Marijuana
**Law Enforcement should confirm
warrants prior to arrest.
Do not rely solely on this
information!**
|
| OTHER
LAW ENFORCEMENT NEWS |
|
BILL
WOULD LET POLICE SEIZE VEHICLES DRIVEN
BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
A
proposal to allow police to seize cars
from illegal immigrants prompted an
emotional public hearing before a
legislative committee Monday.
The
bill, sponsored by Rep. James Mills
(R-Gainesville), would allow police to
seize any vehicle involved in a traffic
violation or accident if it's driven by
an illegal immigrant.
That
includes rented and leased vehicles if
the owner should have known the driver
was an illegal immigrant.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2008/02/18/vehicle_0219.html
|
| Other
Law Enforcement News: |
|
|
CUTS
COULD HALT COURTS, JUDGES WARN
Traffic
court would stop. Abuse cases and
child-custody hearings would be postponed.
Banks would face long delays getting
foreclosed homes back on the market. And
alimony, divorce and commercial litigation
hearings would come to a halt.
That's
what will happen, the state's top judges
warned lawmakers Tuesday, if the
Legislature's proposed budget cuts for the
current year go into effect.
The
dire predictions are the latest alarm
sounded in Florida's growing budget crisis
as Gov. Charlie Crist and legislative
leaders say they need millions in new
budget cuts by June 30 to balance the
2007-08 budget and another $3 billion in
cuts next year.
http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/425527.html
|
|
Thank you for taking the time to stay
informed about criminal justice in
Kenton County.
Rob
Sanders
Commonwealth's Attorney Office
|
|
100% OFF
|
If your department, organization, church
group, neighborhood association, school,
club, scout troup, or any other
collection of people would like a FREE
training or presentation on any
topic related to the Commonwealth's
Attorney Office, prosecution, and/or the
criminal justice system in the
Commonwealth of Kentucky, please call
(859) 292-6580 or email robsanders@kentonprosecutor.com.
|
| This
Offer Has No Expiration Date |
|
Commonwealth's
Attorney Office | 303 Court Street |
Suite 605 | Covington | KY | 41011
|
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