Public Defender

A motion to dismiss a criminal charge against George Lewis, editor of The Interior Journal, is scheduled to be heard district court on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 9:30 a.m. The pre-trial hearing was delayed Monday because the attorney general had not yet appointed a special prosecutor. The complaint against Lewis was filed by public defender Susanne McCullough, who alleged that Lewis "violated the confidentiality of a juvenile court proceeding" when he took and published a photo of her client, 23-year-old double-murder suspect Jamarkos Campbell, who was named in a sealed indictment.

Judicial races aren't the typical political races. Since the candidates can't run on campaign promises and are not split along party lines, sometimes the issues are limited to experience. The candidates for the first division circuit court seat spent much of their public forum appearances delineating their experience, both in and out of court. Family Court Judge Jeff Walson and District Judge William Clouse are running for the unexpired term of Circuit Judge Julia Hylton Adams, who retired at the end of June to become a senior status judge.

Criminal abuse charges were filed against a Winchester woman for allegedly beating a 10-year-old girl last month. Jessica Brewer, 26 of 11 Lincoln St., pleaded not guilty to first-degree criminal abuse charges Monday afternoon in Clark District Court. A preliminary hearing for the felony charge is scheduled for Aug. 20. According to the warrant sworn out by the child's mother, the 10-year-old girl asked to spend the night with Brewer, her father's ex-girlfriend, on July 17. The girl and Brewer's special needs child have a close friendship, according to the warrant.

STANFORD - A man accused of giving two minors marijuana before raping them pleaded not guilty in Lincoln Circuit Court Friday and was appointed a public defender. Johnny D. Watson, 34, of 2671 Hurricane Ridge Road, Waynesburg, faces two counts of first-degree rape with serious physical injury, two counts of first-degree sodomy and two counts of unlawful transaction with a minor. Watson was arrested Wednesday, two years after a criminal complaint was filed by Lincoln County Sheriff's Deputy Ron Luster.

A Winchester man has a new attorney after his hired attorney withdrew from the case Wednesday morning. Raney Dunn Jr., 45, of 118 Cook Ave., will now be represented by a public defender when his case returns to Clark Circuit Court on March 20. Dunn is facing first-degree assault charges after allegedly slicing Mark Rose's throat following a card game Feb. 3, 2007. According to the arrest citation, the victim, Mark Rose, told police Dunn was in an apartment at 31 E. Washington St. playing cards.

The case of an accused robber infected with the HIV virus was sent directly to a grand jury Wednesday after the defendant waived her rights to a preliminary hearing. Victoria Spoonamore did not appear before Boyle District Judge Jeff Dotson, instead sending word via her public defender that she wanted to have her case go straight to a grand jury. Dotson granted the request. Spoonamore, 29, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, robbery and wanton endangerment charges stemming from a Sept.

A Mount Sterling man pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Circuit Court to beating a man with a board more than a week ago. James Cook, 24, was arrested Monday on a warrant for second-degree assault. The warrant, which was obtained by the victim, Edward Carmichael, said Cook and two other men had been drinking Aug. 12 when they allegedly instigated an argument with Carmichael, his wife and a neighbor. During the argument, Carmichael said Cook threatened to “take care of him.” Carmichael said the police were called, and officers separated the groups.

STANFORD - A Stanford couple pleaded not guilty Monday in District Court to charges of manufacturing methamphetamine at their Blue Lick Road residence while two young children were in the house. Roger A. Wilson, 32, and Juanita D. Wilson, 29, both of 3831 Blue Lick Road, were arrested Sunday shortly before midnight by state police after an anonymous tipster identified the house as a possible meth lab. State Police Trooper Bill Collins said he knocked on the door at the home and was granted permission to enter the residence.

Charles "Chuck" Girdler, fired last year from his job as a deputy jailer at the Lincoln Regional Jail, pleaded guilty April 11 to second-degree sex abuse. Girdler, 46, of Somerset, had consensual sex with a female prisoner in the jail on Sept. 10. Girdler was sentenced to six months in jail, probated for two years on the condition he serve 30 days in a jail of his choice at his own expense. He also will be listed among Kentucky's 6,245 registered sex offenders. Represented by public defender Elizabeth Kidd, Girdler has tried to plea bargain his way out of the sex-abuse charge to avoid having to register as a sex offender.

Murder suspect Jessilyn Robinson got a new attorney Thursday afternoon, a week after she was indicted for her daughter's death. Robinson's previous attorney, Andrew Stephens, did not appear in Clark Circuit Court for her arraignment. Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Heidi Engel said Stephens had not called their office to say he would be late. In documents related to the case, he said he would only represent Robinson unless she were indicted. She was indicted a week ago on a single count of murder.