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Grand jury returns more indictments
A 23-year-old Letcher County woman has been indicted on 104 criminal charges in connection with the theft of more than $35,000 in cash from a Partridge machine shop.
Ashley Renee Halcomb, of 13766 Highway 1103, Linefork, is named in five indictments returned last week by the Letcher County Grand Jury. The indictments charge that Halcomb stole $35,248 by forging 52 checks drawn on the account of Jason Hill, d/b/a Hill's Machine Shop, located near the Letcher- Harlan county line.
The indictments show that Halcomb began stealing money from Hill, whom authorities say Halcomb was dating at the time, on July 9, 2007, when she obtained one of Hill's checks, made it payable to herself for $250, forged his name as the payer, and cashed it. Halcomb's alleged scheme soon grew in frequency
After forging and cashing nine checks payable to herself through August 24, 2007, Halcomb then started making the checks payable to "Cash," forging and cashing 43 of them, including a final one for $820 on November 26, 2007. The 52 forged checks ranged in amount from $120 to $1,200.
The five indictments charge Halcomb with five misdemeanor counts of theft by deception of less than $300, 47 felony counts of theft by deception of more than $300, and 52 felony counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument.
The case was investigated by Kentucky State Police Detective Randy Combs, who appeared before the grand jury on January 9.
Halcomb is one of six persons named in indictments handed up last week to Letcher Circuit Judge Sam Wright. Others named in the indictments and the charges against them are:
• Randy Dean Cook - theft by deception and possessing a forged instrument.
The grand jury charged Cook, 20, of 103 Ragwood Dr., Whitesburg, with three counts of possessing forged or counterfeit $50 bills, and with attempting to spend them at Paradise Pizza on Oct. 26, 2007.
In a separate indictment, he is charged with possessing 15 forged $1 bills on Nov. 4, 2007.
The cases were presented to the grand jury by Kentucky State Trooper Randy Surber.
• James Robert Mullins Sr. - complicity to receiving stolen property.
The grand jury returned an indictment charging Mullins, 39, of 3861 Hwy. 343, McRoberts, with acting alone or in complicity with Clayton Sexton, in having in his possession four coal truck tires and tools belonging to Ronnie Long. The incident allegedly occurred on October 16, 2007.
Kentucky State Police Trooper Derek Hall testified in the case.
• Clayton M. Sexton - complicity to receiving stolen property, no or expired registration plate, no or expired registration receipt, failure to produce proof of insurance, improper registration plate, failure to have his operator's license in his possession while operating a motor vehicle.
Sexton, 25, of 127 Morning Lane, McRoberts, is charged with acting alone or in complicity with James Mullins in having in his possession four coal truck tires and tools belonging to Ronnie Long. The incident allegedly occurred on October 16, 2007.
Kentucky State Police Trooper Derek Hall testified in the case.
• Samuel E. Adkins II - complicity to burglary, complicity to theft, and being a persistent felony offender.
The grand jury charged Adkins, 31, of 66 Cove Street, Jenkins, with aiding in the planning or commission of a burglary at the residence of Samuel Adkins Sr. in complicity with Gregory A. Hall on October 28, 2007. He is charged with possessing a semi-automatic pistol while in the residence or during his flight from the residence. He is also charged with stealing jewelry and other items including a semi-automatic pistol from the residence in complicity with Gregory A. Hall.
The grand jury heard testimony in the case from Jenkins Police Sgt. Adam Swindell.
• Larry David Brashears - operating an ATV on Hwy. 588, fleeing and/or evading police, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, wanton endangerment, and reckless driving.
Brashears, 28, of 2791 Kingdom Come Creek, Whitesburg, is accused of operating an ATV on Hwy. 588 without an operator's license on October 10, 2007 and fleeing from Kentucky State Trooper Jackie Pickrell.
Kentucky State Trooper Jackie Pickrell testified in the case.
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