A Mercer County grand jury indicted three suspects in a rash of thefts from December.
Sarah D. Towler, 24, Paul D. Brown, 32, and Sharon Brown, 28, all of Lancaster, were charged with two counts each of theft by unlawful taking of personal items, valued at more than $500 and less than $10,000, on Dec. 12. The three allegedly stole from Joseph Smith and William Ward.
The thefts ranged from burglaries of businesses to car break ins, the Mercer County Sheriff's Office reported in December while asking for the public's help to find Towler and the Browns.
Bond was set at $5,000 for each person for each charge. Deputy Scott Elder and M. Swabey testified before the grand jury.
In another indictment, a Harrodsburg man, who was jailed after hitting a man on a riding lawn mower with his pickup truck, has been indicted.
Christopher W. Byrd, 40, 715 Maple Ave., was charged with first-degree assault, driving under the influence, driving a motor vehicle without liability insurance and possession of marijuana for the incident¿April 14.
Byrd struck Michael Moore with his 1996 Chevrolet pickup truck while Moore was riding a Troybilt lawn mower in his yard along Bohon Road, according to a Mercer County Sheriff’s Office press release.
At the time, Byrd told deputies he was traveling east on Bohon Road when his cell phone began to ring, and while reaching to answer it, he drove off the south side of the road and hit Moore.
Moore suffered serious physical injury, according the indictment.
Byrd's bond was set at $20,000. Deputy Billy Whitenack testified before the grand jury.
Others indicted in Mercer County were:
- Stephen Jewell, 32, 531 Indian Creek Road, two counts of second-degree burglary and two counts theft by unlawful taking more than $500 and less than $10,000, for allegedly unlawfully entering the home of Linda Watts on May 6 and May 11 and taking personal property. Bond was set at $20,000. Deputy Tim Gambrel testified.
- Anna Gregory, 46, 202 W. Mill St., Burgin, public assistance fraud for allegedly failing to report a change in factors affecting her eligibility to receive public assistance with the intent to defraud between October and December 2010. Bond was set at $5,000. Bradley Reid with the Office of the Inspector General testified before the grand jury.
- Paul Sheppard, 52, 424 Chippewa Drive, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance for allegedly trafficking cocaine on Jan.12. Bond was set at $5,000. C. Gaddis testified.
- Ronnie Simpson, 56, 966 Old Louisville Road, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, second or subsequent offense; two counts of being a first-degree persistent felony offender; driving under the influence, fourth or subsequent offense; and driving a motor vehicle without liability insurance for allegedly operating a motor vehicle under such conditions April 15. Bond was set at $40,000. Gambrel testified.
