Manslaughter

The grandparents of an 10-month-old girl who died after ingesting methadone, pleaded guilty to manslaughter this morning. David Black, 42, and Cheryl Kirkwood-Black, 51, were arrested for murder after the child died at their apartment on Oct. 12, 2010. An autopsy determined that the child, Addysen Mayes, had a toxic level of methadone in her system. Methadone is frequently prescribed to help people overcome opiate addiction. Prosecutors amended the charges from murder to second-degree manslaughter and recommended the maximum 10-year sentence for each.

STANFORD - Jason Napier was led from the Lincoln County Judicial Center in handcuffs and leg irons Thursday night after a jury found him guilty of second-degree manslaughter and second-degree criminal abuse in the 2009 beating death of 4-year-old Nathaniel Knox. Jurors then quickly recommended that Napier serve a total of 15 years in prison, the maximun penaly allowed. Lincoln Circuit Judge David Tapp will formally sentence Napier on Oct. 14.  "We're really pleased the jury held him accountable for his actions," Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney David Dalton said afterward.  Napier's sentence equaled that given to Jessica Noble, Nathaniel's mother, who pleaded guilty last year to complicity to second-degree manslaughter and second-degree criminal abuse in exchange for a 15-year prison sentence.

After nearly 11 hours of deliberations and a few requests of the judge, a Boyle Circuit jury emerged shortly before midnight Tuesday with a verdict convicting Dr. Steven Hall of second-degree manslaughter in the 2009 death of his wife, Isabel. Hall reacted to the verdict as he has through most of his seven-day murder trial, with little outward emotion. He appeared ready to talk to a reporter but was whisked out of the courtroom by deputies before he could speak. “We were told to get him out of here as fast as we could,” Sheriff Marty Elliott explained.

Jeffrey Byrd and his sister, Tabitha Byrd, were indicted again Thursday, this time for second-degree manslaughter for the death of Luther Fountain. The siblings are already facing robbery charges for allegedly robbing Fountain and taking his wallet in March. The new charges were filed after Fountain died in May in a Lexington hospital. Police originally charged the Byrds with murder, but the grand jury charged them with a lesser offense. According to state statute, murder is defined as a person intentionally causing another's death, while second-degree manslaughter involved wantonly causing a death.

FRANKFORT - Lawyers for Jason Napier, who was convicted of manslaughter  in Lincoln Circuit Court, in 2011, are hoping the mention of a polygraph test during the trial will give their client another day in court. Louisville attorney Steve Romines said Friday that arguments were made in the state Court of Appeals that Napier should get another trial because Judge David Tapp did not declare a mistrial after witness Jessica Noble told jurors she had passed a lie-detector test concerning matters related to her four-year-old son, Nathaniel Knox, who was beaten to death in 2009.

A Jessamine County grand jury indicted Karen L. Snowden, 53, 1836 Augusta Drive No. 2, Lexington, on second-degree manslaughter and driving under the influence. The indictment stems from the Dec. 5 wreck on U.S. 27, near Ashgrove Road, which claimed the life of 62-year-old Dennis Giffin of Lexington. Following the accident, Giffin was taken to a Lexington hospital where he died from injuries sustained in the collision. Additionally, two juveniles were involved in the incident, but they were treated and released that same night.

The Winchester siblings accused of robbing and causing the death of Luther Fountain are expected to plead guilty to both cases this morning. Jeffrey Byrd and his sister Tabitha Byrd are facing robbery and second-degree manslaughter charges for the March robbery of 68-year-old Fountain and his death almost three months later. Jeffrey Byrd, 25, was ready to plead guilty to both cases Thursday afternoon until Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Charles Johnson said the plea offer was contingent upon Tabitha Byrd pleading guilty as well.

Ten months after Kimberly Hooten died on Meadow Street, Anthony Brown was sentenced to 15 years in prison for her death. Brown, 32 of 1018 W. Lexington Ave., pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and tampering with physical evidence last month for Hooten's death on Sept. 10, 2008. Hooten died from multiple stab wounds, police said. Brown said nothing Thursday afternoon as Clark Circuit Judge William Clouse sentenced him to 10 years for first-degree manslaughter and five years for tampering with physical evidence.

FRANKFORT - Lawyers for Jason Napier, who was convicted of manslaughter  in Lincoln Circuit Court, in 2011, are hoping the mention of a polygraph test during the trial will give their client another day in court. Louisville attorney Steve Romines said Friday that arguments were made in the state Court of Appeals that Napier should get another trial because Judge David Tapp did not declare a mistrial after witness Jessica Noble told jurors she had passed a lie-detector test concerning matters related to her four-year-old son, Nathaniel Knox, who was beaten to death in 2009.

“She knew I wanted a family …so it turned into, you know, the kid, the car, the white picket fence and all that.” The American Dream, right. … the white picket fence and all that? Maybe it started out that way in Paul Estes' imagination, but it turned into an American Nightmare. “We had been smoking crack all night, run through $200 or $300, and we were tapped out … She said we need to get some money … and then she just started talking about killing her mom pretty much, and she kept it up for probably a good hour and then finally, you know, she talked me into doing it. I went upstairs and she went with me …” It was about 3 a.m. the day of May 19, 2009.

STANFORD - Just as the jury that convicted him recommended, Jason Napier was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in prison for the 2009 beating death of 4-year-old Nathaniel Knox. “I have no hesitation in imposing the sentence the jury recommended,” Lincoln Circuit Judge David Tapp said. “I think it's appropriate under these circumstances.” After a three-day trial in September, Napier was convicted of second-degree manslaughter and second-degree criminal abuse. Medical testimony established that Nathaniel died as a result of a powerful blow to the back of the head, but there was no proof presented as to how he received the fatal injury.

A second-degree manslaughter case stemming from a November 2007 incident will go to trial in January, according to court documents. Nicholasville's James Collins, 34, of 1663 River Road faces charges of second-degree manslaughter and tampering with physical evidence in an incident that claimed the life of Ruth Ann Bates on Nov. 1, 2007. Nicholasville police officer Kevin Grimes, who was working as the case detective in 2007, said the incident involved an overdose. “That was an overdose case where it was alleged that Mr. Collins may have assisted (Bates)

The grandparents of an 10-month-old girl who died after ingesting methadone, pleaded guilty to manslaughter this morning. David Black, 42, and Cheryl Kirkwood-Black, 51, were arrested for murder after the child died at their apartment on Oct. 12, 2010. An autopsy determined that the child, Addysen Mayes, had a toxic level of methadone in her system. Methadone is frequently prescribed to help people overcome opiate addiction. Prosecutors amended the charges from murder to second-degree manslaughter and recommended the maximum 10-year sentence for each.

A formerConkwright Middle School teacher will serve 10 years in prison for her role in a fatal Morgan County crash. Brittany Williams, 24, of West Liberty, was sentenced Monday in Morgan Circuit Court for manslaughter and first-degree assault from the May 31, 2010, crash. She pleaded guilty to both charges on Sept. 24, according to court officials. She will have to serve 85 percent, or eight and a half years, of her sentence before she is eligible to meet the parole board. Police said Williams was intoxicated while she was driving on Ky. 7 near West Liberty at about 9 p.m. when she crossed the center line and struck an oncoming vehicle driven by 76-year-old Gerry Blackwell and carrying her 59-year-old brother, Terry Blackwell.

The driver in a 2010 fatal crash began serving his 15-year prison sentence Thursday afternoon. Robert Bradley Deskins, 30, was facing at least 10 years for second-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault, plus one year for wanton endangerment and another 30 days for driving under the influence. That agreement was worked out during a criminal mediation session earlier this year, but did not specify whether the manslaughter and assault sentences would run together or consecutively.

Jason Napier was convicted Thursday evening in Lincoln County Circuit Court for his part in the 2009 death of four-year-old Nathaniel Knox. As part of an agreement to testify against Napier, Knox's mother pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal abuse and complicity to second-degree manslaughter in the case last July and is serving 15 years in prison. The jury was out about two hours when the three day trial concluded,  returning guilty convictions for second degree manslaughter and second degree child abuse, not the murder conviction that Commonwealth's Attorney David Dalton was hoping for. The prosecution's witnesses consumed most of the trial, with Napier's Louisville-based defense team of Steve Romines and Ted Shouse calling in rapid succession only five witnesses on Thursday.

STANFORD - Jason Napier was led from the Lincoln County Judicial Center in handcuffs and leg irons Thursday night after a jury found him guilty of second-degree manslaughter and second-degree criminal abuse in the 2009 beating death of 4-year-old Nathaniel Knox. Jurors then quickly recommended that Napier serve a total of 15 years in prison, the maximun penaly allowed. Lincoln Circuit Judge David Tapp will formally sentence Napier on Oct. 14.  "We're really pleased the jury held him accountable for his actions," Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney David Dalton said afterward.  Napier's sentence equaled that given to Jessica Noble, Nathaniel's mother, who pleaded guilty last year to complicity to second-degree manslaughter and second-degree criminal abuse in exchange for a 15-year prison sentence.

A second-degree manslaughter case stemming from a November 2007 incident will go trial in October, according to court documents. Nicholasville's James Collins, 34, of 1663 River Road, faces charges of second-degree manslaughter and tampering with physical evidence in an incident that claimed the life of Ruth Ann Bates on Nov. 1, 2007. Nicholasville police officer Kevin Grimes, who was working as the case detective in 2007, said the incident involved an overdose. “That was an overdose case where it was alleged that Mr. Collins may have assisted (Bates)