Welfare Fraud

LANCASTER - A Garrard grand jury indicted five people in July, including a 22-year-old woman on charges that she allegedly defrauded the welfare system. Shannon Rojas, 22, 107 Cowden Court, was charged with two counts of welfare fraud when she allegedly failed to report a change in the factors affecting her eligibility for food stamps, ranging from May 2005 through January 2006, resulting in total benefits of more than $100 than the amount she was entitled. Derek Gould from the Office of the Attorney General was the witness.

STANFORD - The following people were indicted last week by a Lincoln County grand jury: • Tara Lake, 28, of Danville, first-degree assault for allegedly hitting Melissa Pike with a baseball bat on Feb. 22. Bond was set at $25,000. Deputy Chase Marcum testified before the grand jury. • Joseph B. Brewster, 36, of 117 Harris Creek No. 3, Stanford, third-degree assault and terroristic threatening for allegedly being armed with a deadly weapon while trying to injure Kentucky State Trooper Josh Chenault and threatening harm to Cynthia Reardon on May 18, 2012.

The Jessamine County Grand Jury convened on Wednesday, April 12, and returned the following results in open court on Tuesday, April 14. Angela Smith, welfare fraud, three counts. Norvill Stogdill, flagrant nonsupport. David Gannon, theft by unlawful taking over $300. Chad Donahue and Joshua Reynolds, first-degree rape. Jeffery Borders, third-degree burglary, theft by unlawful taking over $300. Priscilla Hicks, second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, seven counts.

STANFORD - The following people were indicted last week by a Lincoln County grand jury: Tara Lake, 28, of Danville, first-degree assault for allegedly hitting Melissa Pike with a baseball bat on Feb. 22. Bond was set at $25,000. Deputy Chase Marcum testified before the grand jury. Joseph B. Brewster, 36, of 117 Harris Creek No. 3, Stanford, third-degree assault and terroristic threatening for allegedly being armed with a deadly weapon while trying to injure Kentucky State Trooper Josh Chenault and threatening harm to Cynthia Reardon on May 18, 2012.

STANFORD - A Lincoln County grand jury has indicted a Waynesburg woman who allegedly shot her husband in the head while he was sleeping. Tamara N. Richie, of New Road in Waynesburg, is facing a murder charge after police say she killed her husband, David L. Richie, with a semi-automatic handgun on Oct. 22. Tamara Richie then allegedly left David Richie's body in the couple's house for three days. On Oct. 25, a relative reported the alleged murder and authorities found the body.

Editor's note: The Danville Police Department has a large backlog of unserved warrants and needs help finding the people listed at right. For more information, call (859) 238-1220 or go to www.danvillepd.com. Danville's Most Wanted Christopher Blake Turner was indicted for two counts of trafficking in cocaine. He also has warrants for a positive drug test and failure to report for additional drug screens. Other Warrants Garnett E. Godbey, U/M, theft by deception John Grimes, W/M, 31, possession of meth precursor Virginia Hall, W/F, 43, obtaining controlled substance by fraud Linda Holden, U/F, theft of identity, perjury Travis Lee Jacobs, W/M, 24, DUI, fourth offense; wanton endangerment Joann L. Jones, W/F, 41, welfare fraud John Lane, W/M, 43, flagrant non-support Richard K. Lynn, W/M, 53, flagrant non-support Wendell D. McFerron, W/F, 28, theft by unlawful taking Robert E. Peavyhouse, W/M, 38, flagrant non-support Troy Shane Smith, W/M, 20, theft Larry B. Stevenson, B/M, 27, trafficking cocaine William L. Taylor, W/M, 36, wanton endangerment, possession of cocaine Demond M. Thornton, B/M, 30, possession of cocaine Katrina D. Turner, U/F, theft by deception Charles Hampton, W/M, 20, probation violation Josefina Jimenez, H/F, 27, alcohol intoxication Ricky Johnson, W/M, 45, theft George L. Lewis, B/M, 52, DUI, second offense

LANCASTER  - The following people were indicted recently by a Garrard County grand jury:  Eddie W. Erwin, 66, 758 Ballard Road, welfare fraud for allegedly providing false information to collect $6,773 in Food Stamp and Medicaid benefits between May 2010 and September 2011. Bond was set at $5,000. Bradley Reid from the Office of Inspector General testified before the grand jury. Paul J. East, 58, 1064 Long Branch Road, second-degree assault for allegedly causing serious physical injury to Dean Hall on Aug. 24. A summons was issued.

HARRODSBURG ? The couple accused of suffocating a woman in May have been indicted for murder by a Mercer County grand jury. Paul E. Estes, 36, of 62 Cold Springs Drive, Lancaster, and Meagan Nicole Brooks, 22, of 206 Belmont Circle, Harrodsburg, have each been charged with murder in the May 19 death of Debbie Brooks, Meagan Brooks' mother. Bond was set at $200,000 each. Harrodsburg detective Garry Bradshaw testified before the grand jury. According to police, Meagan Brooks called 911 to report the death of her mother, who was found with a plastic bag over her head.

STANFORD - A Kings Mountain man was indicted June 27 on robbery and threatening charges, according to records in Lincoln Circuit Court. Eric McDonnell, 26, of 60 Alley St. faces first-degree robbery and threatening charges after allegedly threatened to use physical force on Shirley Mullins while armed with a knife and during the course of committing theft. McDaniel also is indicted for robbery at C Store and More when he allegedly threatened to use physical force while armed with a knife while attempting to commit a theft.

STANFORD - A Lincoln County grand jury has indicted a Waynesburg woman who allegedly shot her husband in the head while he was sleeping. Tamara N. Richie, of New Road in Waynesburg, is facing a murder charge after police say she killed her husband, David L. Richie, with a semi-automatic handgun on Oct. 22. Tamara Richie then allegedly left David Richie's body in the couple's house for three days. On Oct. 25, a relative reported the alleged murder and authorities found the body.

STANFORD - The following people were indicted last week by a Lincoln County grand jury: • Tara Lake, 28, of Danville, first-degree assault for allegedly hitting Melissa Pike with a baseball bat on Feb. 22. Bond was set at $25,000. Deputy Chase Marcum testified before the grand jury. • Joseph B. Brewster, 36, of 117 Harris Creek No. 3, Stanford, third-degree assault and terroristic threatening for allegedly being armed with a deadly weapon while trying to injure Kentucky State Trooper Josh Chenault and threatening harm to Cynthia Reardon on May 18, 2012.

STANFORD - The following people were indicted last week by a Lincoln County grand jury: Tara Lake, 28, of Danville, first-degree assault for allegedly hitting Melissa Pike with a baseball bat on Feb. 22. Bond was set at $25,000. Deputy Chase Marcum testified before the grand jury. Joseph B. Brewster, 36, of 117 Harris Creek No. 3, Stanford, third-degree assault and terroristic threatening for allegedly being armed with a deadly weapon while trying to injure Kentucky State Trooper Josh Chenault and threatening harm to Cynthia Reardon on May 18, 2012.

LANCASTER  - The following people were indicted recently by a Garrard County grand jury:  Eddie W. Erwin, 66, 758 Ballard Road, welfare fraud for allegedly providing false information to collect $6,773 in Food Stamp and Medicaid benefits between May 2010 and September 2011. Bond was set at $5,000. Bradley Reid from the Office of Inspector General testified before the grand jury. Paul J. East, 58, 1064 Long Branch Road, second-degree assault for allegedly causing serious physical injury to Dean Hall on Aug. 24. A summons was issued.

State Rep. Lonnie Napier of Lancaster has opened a political can of worms by introducing a bill in the legislature that proposes random drug testing of those who receive welfare. I support his bill. Those against the idea say it may violate the Fourth Amendment rights of citizens who are innocent of any crime. But if you receive your total cost of living from the government, you are essentially a ward of the state, which changes the relationship with the government. Just like Mom and Dad wrote the rules until you left the house, wards of the state must submit to the authority of those who provide their room and board — the taxpayers.

Rep. Lonnie Napier of Lancaster has opened a political can of worms by introducing a bill in the state legislature that proposes random drug testing for those who receive welfare. I support his bill. Those against the idea say it may violate the Fourth Amendment rights of citizens who are innocent of any crime. But if you receive your total cost of living from government, you are essentially a ward of the state, which changes the relationship with government. Just like Mom and Dad wrote the rules until you left the house, wards of the state must submit to the authority of those who provide their room and board — the taxpayers.

State Rep. Lonnie Napier of Lancaster has opened a political can of worms by introducing a bill in the state legislature that proposes random drug testing for those who receive welfare. I support his bill. Those against the idea say it may violate the 4th Amendment rights of citizens who are innocent of any crime. But if you receive your total cost of living from government, you are essentially a ward of the state, which changes the relationship with government. Just like mom and dad wrote the rules until you left the house, wards of the state must submit to the authority of those who provide their room and board — the taxpayers.

LANCASTER — A Garrard County grand jury has indicted a Lancaster man for allegedly having sexual contact with a minor. Kevin Hubble , 40, of 215 Thompson Road, was indicted on four counts of first-degree sexual abuse. The alleged incidents occurred between May 1, 2009, and Jan. 15 of this year, and involved a child less than 18 years old with whom Hubble held a position of authority or special trust, according to the indictment. Trooper Eric Taylor testified before the grand jury.

HARRODSBURG ? The couple accused of suffocating a woman in May have been indicted for murder by a Mercer County grand jury. Paul E. Estes, 36, of 62 Cold Springs Drive, Lancaster, and Meagan Nicole Brooks, 22, of 206 Belmont Circle, Harrodsburg, have each been charged with murder in the May 19 death of Debbie Brooks, Meagan Brooks' mother. Bond was set at $200,000 each. Harrodsburg detective Garry Bradshaw testified before the grand jury. According to police, Meagan Brooks called 911 to report the death of her mother, who was found with a plastic bag over her head.