Parole

STANFORD - A former truck driver on parole for striking and killing a police officer in Tennessee was caught driving last month despite his suspended license because he needed a pack of cigarettes, he told The Advocate on Monday. James Fitzgerald Jr., 26, of Walnut Grove Lane, Hustonville, was arrested April 29 after a Hustonville officer saw him squeal his tires and fishtail in a store parking lot. He was arrested and charged with reckless driving, improper tag and driving on a suspended license.

Dear Editor: Hank Meridith, serving time for the murder of Teresa Larson, has served 15 years. He is now up for parole. The gory details of this crime make it our business to see that he remains in jail as long as possible. Teresa was due to start teaching at Kentucky School for the Deaf in Danville when she went missing. Much later, her body was found wrapped in an old carpet and thrown aside like a piece of trash. In my opinion Hank Meridith's sentence was not appropriate to fit his crime.

STANFORD - A three-county manhunt for an alleged check thief and parole violator ended Tuesday when state police arrested Wilbur Riddle Jr. in Stanford. Riddle, 24, of 12531 KY 1247, Waynesburg, was charged with possession of a forged instrument. He was wanted in Lincoln County on 21 warrants for theft of mail matter, criminal possession of a forged instrument and related charges. Riddle was also wanted in Casey County for burglary and theft by deception over $300 and in Boyle County for a parole violation.

A local man who pleaded guilty to 15 counts of first-degree sexual abuse in April was sentenced to five years in prison on each count Tuesday by Boyle Circuit Judge Darren Peckler. The 15 five-year sentences for William F. Coffey, 60, of 692 Bryants Camp Road, Lancaster, will run concurrently. Peckler pronounced the sentence after hearing Coffey apologize to his "family, friends and everyone this affected," saying he was "embarrassed. " Defense attorney Ephraim Helton requested probation for Coffey, submitting letters of character commendation as well as statements citing Coffey's poor health and otherwise clean police record, but Peckler said community standards mandated jail time.