Grand jury indicts 15 people

The Casey County grand jury on Feb. 23 returned indictments on 15 different individuals on a wide range of charges.

All defendants are presumed innocent in a court of law until proven guilty.

Those indicted were:

Joseph L. Goforth, 61, of Yosemite, was indicted on three traffic violations: rear license not illuminated, no rear view mirror, and failure to produce an insurance card.

According to the indictment, the charges stemmed from a Nov. 7, 2023 traffic stop. The grand jury declined to indict Goforth for a charge of possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, first offense (methamphetamine).

Appearing as a witness before the grand jury was Casey County Sheriff's Deputy Jake Atwood.

Rodney Dean Rowe, 25, of Liberty, was indicted for reckless driving, disregarding a stop sign, fleeing or evading the police in the second degree (on foot), possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, second offense (methamphetamine), fleeing or evading police in the first degree (motor vehicle), wanton endangerment in the first degree, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance, fourth or subsequent offense (aggravating circumstance), and persistent felony offender in the second degree.

According to the indictment, Rowe operated a motor vehicle in a manner that was without regard for the safety of the public, and under the influence, on Sept. 7. He failed to stop at a stop sign and fled, endangering the life of a minor child. After being stopped he also fled on foot. He was found to possess meth, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. Rowe had previously been convicted of a felony offense with in the last five years.

Casey County Deputy Jake Atwood appeared as a witness before the grand jury.

Sarah L. Taylor, 44, of Russell Springs, was indicted for failure of owner to maintain required insurance, careless driving, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, third or subsequent offense.

According to the indictment, on Sept. 7 Taylor failed to operate a motor vehicle in a safe manner, and drove without valid insurance. She possessed marijuana, paraphernalia. She also possessed heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, or flourofentanyl, for the third time.

Casey County Sheriff's Deputy Jake Atwood appeared as a witness before the grand jury.

Amber M. Luttrell, 36, of Liberty, was indicted for fraudulent insurance acts, $10,000 to $1 million.

According to the indictment, on March 18, 2022, Luttrell engaged in a fraudulent insurance at, or assisted, abetted, solicited, or conspired with another person to commit a fraudulent insurance act.

Insurance fraud investigator Brian T. Reeder appeared before the grand jury as a witness.

Kenneth R. Wethington, 54, of Liberty, was indicted for assault in the third degree, and persistent felony offender in the first degree.

According to the indictment, on Jan. 9 Wethington assaulted a Casey County Hospital employee. He had previously been convicted of a felony offense within the last five years.

Liberty Police Chief Steven Garrett appeared before the grand jury as a witness.

Ronnie Dale Johnson, 39, of Liberty, was indicted for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, persistent felony offender in the first degree, resident hunting/trapping without a license/permit, entry on land to shoot/hunt/fish/trap without consent first offense, regulations necessary to implement KRS 150, hunting under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substance, and possession of marijuana.

According to his indictment, on Nov. 13, Johnson possessed a .243 caliber Amadeo Rossi & Co rifle, and was hunting on another person's property without permission and without a license. He was under the influence and possessed marijuana.

Fish and Wildlife Officer Zachary Carney appeared as a witness before the grand jury.

Michael Wayne Mann, 56, of Hustonville, was indicted for failure to comply with the sex offender registration, first offense.

According to the indictment, on Sept. 18, he knowingly and unlawfully failed to notify the appropriate local probation and parole office of a change in his address.

Kentucky State Police Maverick Gadberry appeared before the grand jury as a witness.

Dennis Keith West, 40, of Columbia, was indicted for fleeing or evading police in the second degree (on foot), possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, third or subsequent offense (methamphetamine), escape in the third degree, promoting contraband in the first degree, and persistent felony offender in the first degree.

According to his indictment, on Dec. 1, he escaped from a Casey County Court Security Officer and fled when being told to stop. He possessed methamphetamine, and brought it into the Casey County Detention Center. He had previously been convicted of a felony offense within the last five years.

Ashley Anne Vernimo, 42, of Liberty, was indicted for tampering with physical evidence.

According to the indictment, Vernimo altered physical evidence on Feb. 7 during a urine drug screen administered by a probation and parole officer.

Casey County Sheriff's Deputy Hannah Lynn appeared before the grand jury as a witness.

Robert Allen Johnson, 34, of Somerset, was indicted for sexual abuse in the first degree.

According to the indictment, from Dec. 31, 2014, through Jan. 1, 2015, Johnson, who was older than 21 at the time, subjected a minor female, who was 15 at the time, to sexual contact.

Casey County Sheriff's Deputy Hannah Lynn appeared as a witness before the grand jury.

Elizabeth A. Lawrence, AKA "Elizabeth Ann Lawrence," or "Elizabeth Ann Blythe," 26, of Lancaster, was indicted for possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, first offense (methamphetamine), and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the indictment, on or around Oct. 17, she possessed the drug and paraphernalia.

Casey County Sheriff's Deputy Tyler Luttrell appeared as a witness before the grand jury.

Zachary H. Cook, 33, of Liberty, was indicted for possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, third or subsequent offense (methamphetamine).

According to the indictment, he possessed the drug on Nov. 9.

Casey County Sheriff's Deputy Tyler Luttrell appeared before the grand jury as a witness.

Jerry Wayne Dick, 59, of Bethelridge, was indicted for failure to produce an insurance card, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of a substance first offense (aggravating circumstances), possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, first offense (methamphetamine).

According to the indictment, on Aug. 26, Dick was operating a motor vehicle under the influence and without an insurance card. He refused to submit to any tests of his blood, breath, or urine. He was found to possess the drugs and paraphernalia.

Kevin C. Estes, 38, of Russell Springs, was indicted for trafficking in marijuana 8 ounces to five pounds, persistent felony offender in the first degree, no operators/moped license, failure of non-owner operator to maintain required insurance first offense, and failure to wear seat belts.

According to the indictment, Estes was operating a motor vehicle without a license, or insurance on Nov. 17. He was found to be trafficking marijuana, and wasn't wearing a seat belt. He had previously been convicted of a felony offense within the last five years.

Casey County Sheriff's Deputy Tyler Luttrell appeared as a witness before the grand jury.

Ryan M. Davis, 47, was indicted for two counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree.

According to the indictment, on April 14, he fired a gun into a vehicle occupied by two people, including a minor child.

Deputy Tyler Luttrell appeared as a witness before the grand jury.