The Mountain Eagle
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Indictments include drug trafficking charges


In its first session since courts reopened following the months-long closure due to COVID-19, a Letcher County Grand Jury has returned numerous indictments on drug trafficking, weapons, and other charges.

Among those charged are two people charged as co-defendants in at least four different cases. In one set of indictments, they are charged with complicity to first-degree trafficking of more than two grams of methamphetamine. Kenneth Eugene Fisher, 47, 190 Pear Dr., is charged along with McKenzie Savannah McIntire, 22, of 39 Mallard Dr., Millstone, in an incident on December 31. McIntire is charged in a separate indictment in the same cases with complicity to third-degree possession of a controlled substance, use/possession of drug paraphernalia, controlled substance (prescription) not in the original container, tampering with physical evidence, and being a persistent felony offender in the second-degree. She is accused of possessing two or more grams of methamphetamine, as well as digital scales, plastic bags and other containers for weighing and storing drugs.

In addition, McIntire is charged in a separate indictment with second-degree fleeing or evading police, complicity to first-degree trafficking in two or more grams of methamphetamine, and third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

That indictment stems from a September 10, 2020, case in which McIntire allegedly jumped out of a vehicle driven by Fisher during a police pursuit and fled on foot. Fisher was indicted for that incident in October.

The two are charged in another set of indictments from December 24, 2020. In that case, Fisher is charged with complicity to first-degree trafficking in more than two grams of methamphetamine. McIntire is also charged with complicity to first-degree trafficking in more than two grams of methamphetamine, and use/possession of drug paraphernalia, including digital scales, plastic bags and other containers.

In the third case, Fisher is also charged with complicity to first-degree trafficking in more than two grams of methamphetamine and McIntire is again charged with complicity to first-degree trafficking in more than two grams of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. This incident allegedly occurred on December 25, one day after the previous charges.

Also charged with drug trafficking offenses were:

• Sean Ihla, 32, of 79 Pine Creek Road, who is charged with first-degree trafficking in more than two grams of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, no/expired registration plates, license not in possession and failure to maintain insurance.

The charges relate to a Nov. 8, 2020, incident. The Letcher County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy arrested Ihla after a traffic stop in which he discovered a plastic container holding multiple plastic bags filled with a total of 10 grams of methamphetamine, two sets of digital scales, and $990 in cash.

Deputy Sheriff James Norris testified in the case.

• Dusty Shell, 31, 3186 Hwy 805, is charged in three separate indictments. Shell is charged with first-degree possession of methamphetamine, trafficking in two or more grams of methamphetamine (second offense), use/possession of drug paraphernalia, third-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, first-degree assault, kidnapping and being a persistent felony offender in the first degree.

The assault and gun charges stem from an incident on January 3 in which Shell allegedly became involved in a domestic violence incident against Rebecca D. Sexton, and then shot her with a 9mm pistol when she tried to escape. The drug charges are from January 11. Kentucky State Police Trooper Eric Caldwell testified in all three indictments.

• Kayla Lavonne Kelly, 36, 999 Kelly Mountain Rd, Shelby Gap, is charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kelly is accused of possessing clear plastic bags containing a substance believed to methamphetamine, a loaded syringe with a clear liquid determined to be methamphetamine, and a bag with several unused syringes and “a substantial amount of cash.”

The incident allegedly occurred on November 25, 2020. Officer Ryan Turner of the Jenkins Police Department testified in the case.

Kelly is also charged with first-degree bail jumping and being a persistent felony offender in the first degree for failing to appear for a court hearing on March.

Those charged by the grand jury for other offenses include:

• Billy R. Adams Jr., 30, of 2119 Golf Course Lane, Mayking, is charged with second-degree escape, tampering with a prisoner monitoring device, and being a persistent felony offender in the first degree after allegedly tampering with his monitoring device and escaping from home incarceration on January 16. Deputy Sheriff Ben Fields testified before the grand jury.

Adams is also charged with first-degree fleeing and evading police, resisting arrest and failure to wear a seatbelt. Adams is accused of fleeing from Kentucky State Police Troopers Jason Bates and Michael Burton while acting alone or complicity with Buddy Amburgey, and with using force to prevent or attempt to prevent the troopers from arresting him. That incident occurred on January 18 after police responded to a burglary complaint at Isom and became involved in a pursuit of a pickup truck driven by Adams. The pursuit ended at Premium when the vehicle’s engine died and would not restart, and the two locked themselves inside the truck, police said at the time.

• Terry Franklin Turner, 35, of 302 September Lane, Elijay, Ga., is charged with two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of being a persistent felony offender. In a separate indictment, he is charged with possession of marijuana with a firearm enhancement and use/possession of drug paraphernalia. The charges stem from an arrest on January 25 by Whitesburg Police Patrolman Michael Garner, who testified in the case.

Turner was allegedly in possession of a loaded, Ruger Mini-14, .223 caliber rifle and a loaded bolt-action .22 rifle, while also in possession of a plastic bag containing marijuana.

• David Anthony Day, 30, of 280 HWY 2035, is named in three separate indictments charging him with second-degree escape for allegedly absconding from home incarceration on January 9, and two separate charges of first-degree bail jumping for failing to appear in court on November 18, 2020, to answer two other felony indictments.

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