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Burglary case sent to grand jury

February 26, 2009|Fred Petke

The three men accused of breaking into a trailer last week on Stoner Ephesus Road were reportedly driving around Clark County looking for a place to rob.

Then the homeowner caught them in his home.

Clifton Young, 26, Virgil Herald, 37, and 49-year-old Vernon Gill, all of Lexington, are facing second-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools charges following the incident last week.

During their preliminary hearing Wednesday in Clark District Court, Clark County Deputy Sheriff Lee Murray testified that the resident, Leonard Joseph, was going fishing with two friends when they drove past his home Feb. 19 and saw a strange pickup truck parked in the driveway.

Murray said Joseph and his friends stopped to investigate and found men inside his home. When Joseph yelled at the men, one started to approach him carrying a crowbar in a "threatening manner," Murray said. Joseph fled to his friend's vehicle as the suspects ran to their truck and drove away.

Joseph and his friends, Dean and Dale Morton, followed the suspects and called 911, said Murray, who waited on U.S. 60 near Interstate 64 for the suspects' truck. Murray said there was a small pursuit before the truck stopped. Murray said he took all three men out of the truck at gunpoint and waited for backup to arrive.

Murray said nothing was taken from the home.

In interviews with Detective Brian Caudill, Young reportedly said he was contacted by the others to see if he wanted to make some money. After agreeing, the three drove around Clark County until they found a place to burglarize.

Gill and Young each said they were acting as lookout and did not enter the home, Caudill said.

Clark District Judge Earl-Ray Neal found probable cause for the charges and sent the case to the grand jury. All three remain in the Clark County Detention Center.

Contact Fred Petke at fpetke@winchestersun.com.

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