Arraignment

Three days after admitting to setting their house on fire, a Winchester couple remains in jail on arson charges and a $10,000 cash bond. Arlie James Younce, 20, and his wife Britta Leann Younce, 21, were both arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Clark District Court. Because the pair are charged with felonies, not guilty pleas were automatically entered for both. Under state law, district court can't issue a sentence greater than 12 months in jail, required for a felony conviction. Arlie Younce told police early Monday morning he had planned to set his house on fire.

STANFORD - Constant surveillance and a lot of "footwork" by Kentucky State Police detectives helped lead to the arrest Sunday of a male suspect in the double homicide of two young Lincoln County men six years ago, a state police spokesman said Monday. And Trooper Chris Lanham, public information officer for the Richmond post, told a noon press conference on the steps of the Lincoln County Courthouse he is optimistic that the still ongoing investigation will result in the apprehension of additional suspects in the Feb. 1, 2002, murders of Ryan Keith Shangraw, 20, and Harold "Bo" Upton III, 18, in Shangraw's trailer in Hubble.

STANFORD - Authorities continued to closely guard the identity of the man charged in a six-year-old murder case, shielding his face from media Tuesday as he was delivered from Lincoln County Regional Jail to Lincoln District Court for his arraignment. A not guilty plea was entered for the suspect, who turned himself in Sunday and was charged in the 2002 murders of Harold "Bo" Upton III and Ryan Keith Shangraw. Judge Bill Oliver appointed public defender Susanne McCollough to represent the suspect, who is being treated as a juvenile because he was not 18 when murders occurred.

STANFORD - Kentucky State Police have arrested a suspect in a double homicide that happened six years ago in Lincoln County and expect to charge others. The name of the man taken into custody for the Feb. 1, 2002, shooting deaths of Ryan Keith Shangraw, 20, and Harold "Bo" Upton III, 18, has not been released. Major Rodney Elam of the Lincoln County Regional Jail said today that state police "have instructed us not give out the name" of the man being held without bond on the murder charge.

STANFORD - A Lincoln County man accused of dragging his girlfriend down a road by her hair has pleaded not guilty in Lincoln Circuit Court. Ronald "J.R. " Kennedy, 29, of 115 Hazlett Hollow is charged with kidnapping with serious physical injury, first-degree assault and being a persistent felony offender. Friday's not guilty plea was entered by Cabell Francis II, Kennedy's attorney. Judge Jeffrey T. Burdette scheduled a pretrial conference for April 25, set Kennedy's bond at $25,000 and sent him back to Northpoint Training Center, where he is being held for a parole violation.

MAGISTRATE ACCUSED OF ETHICS VIOLATION A local businessman has alleged that a Clark County magistrate violated ethics codes last year as the Fiscal Court obtained a hew health insurance policy. TRAVELING TRAILS GRAND OPENING Clark County residents can take their first steps on a temporary walking trail with a grand opening celebration Saturday. By Katheran Wasson TWO ARRAIGNED IN CHILD ABUSE CASE Jesse Patrick and Genne Burgess, the two people accused of assaulting Patrick's 3-week-old son, pleaded not guilty and asked for a reduction in bond at their arraignment Thursday.

The following action was taken Feb. 27 in Clark District Court with Judge Earl-Ray Neal presiding:- Danny R. Abney II was ordered to return to court March 26. - Cheyanne Adams was ordered to pay $175 by Feb. 29. - James N. Adams Jr. saw his conditionally discharged time set aside and was ordered to jail and pay costs or stay. - Dona M. Carpenter was ordered to make the required payments that day or a summons would be issued. - A bench warrant against Jessika J. Dickerson remains outstanding.

A Winchester man confessed to police after being charged with sexually abusing a minor child five years ago.Winchester Police arrested Chris Timothy Helton, 37, of 250 Oxford Drive No. 47, during an investigation into sexually explicit photos of a child. Monday morning, Helton pleaded not guilty in Clark District Court to six counts of first-degree sexual abuse, five counts of first-degree sodomy and one count of first-degree rape, according to court documents. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

LIBERTY - A Casey County grand jury recently issued indictments against the following people: Christina Michelle Hall, 29, of 945 Scotts Road, Liberty, charged with second-degree burglary, theft by unlawful taking more than $300, and second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument. She is accused of entering the residence of Dallas Propes and Carolyn Hampton on Nov. 19 and taking jewelry, controlled substances and a check. She is accused of passing the $500 check drawn on Carolyn Hampton's account at Casey County Bank, also on Nov. 19. Deputy Sheriff Chad Weddle was the grand jury witness.

STANFORD - A local resident was indicted for first-degree criminal abuse involving a 12-year-old, according to documents in Lincoln Circuit Clerk Teresa Reed's office. Chris T. Staton, 23, of 106 Clover Court, is accused of intentionally abusing the 12-year-old causing serious physical injury or placing him in a situation that may cause him serious physical injury or torture, and cruel confinement or punishment, the indictment stated. The alleged incidents occurred May 8-June 6. Staton is scheduled to be arraigned 10 a.m. Friday in circuit court.