A Clinton County man charged in connection with the shooting of another local resident has been indicted by a Clinton County Grand Jury, which met in regular session last Thursday, May 1.

Jonathan M. Blaesing, 42, of Albany, was charged by the grand jury for assault first degree, a Class B felony that carries, if convicted, a sentence of 10-20 years in prison. The true bill alleges that the defendant “…engaged in conduct which created a grave risk of death or caused serious injury to Danny Kennedy when said defendant shot him with a pistol.”

The incident occurred Sunday night, March 30 at approximately 8:37 p.m. The Clinton County Sheriff’s Department responded to the call to 155 Martha Stockton Road in response to a shooting incident at that location.

Sheriff Rick Riddle and Deputy Josh Asberry were the first on the scene and determined that Kennedy had been shot one time in the abdomen. He was flown to the UK Medical Center in Lexington where he was treated for his injuries.

Police then began a hunt for the suspect and later, using the local S.O.R.T. (Special Operations Response Team), arrested Blaesing about two hours later at a residence on Hopkins Street in Albany and charged him with first degree assault and lodged him in the Clinton County Jail.

Sheriff Riddle said at the time of the incident that a 357 Magnum, the suspected weapon in the shooting, had been found and appeared to have been fired one time.

A motive for the shooting was not given.

The grand jury returned several other indictments last week, some involving persons charged on multiple counts. The following true bills were handed down in open Circuit Court:

* David B. Brown was indicted for alleged theft by unlawful taking or disposition (four counts) and one count each of third degree burglary and criminal trespass second degree, when on or about February 10, the defendant took or exercised control over property belonging to four separate individuals, each having a value of over $500 but less than $10,000; remaining unlawfully in a building belonging to someone else with the intent to commit a crime, all Class D felonies and remaining in a carport belonging to someone else without permission, a Class B misdemeanor.

* Jesse Phillips and Shannon Herald were each indicted for alleged theft by unlawful taking or disposition (two counts) and one count each of third degree burglary and criminal mischief first degree, when on or about January 25, the defendant took or exercised control over property belonging to two separate individuals, each having a value of over $500 but less than $10,000; remaining unlawfully in a building belonging to someone else with the intent to commit a crime and intentionally damaging property of another, causing a loss of more than $1,000, all Class D felonies.

* Rhonda Aaron was indicted for alleged controlled substance endangerment to a child fourth degree, when on or about January 4, she allowed two minor children to be present when illegally manufacturing a controlled substance or methamphetamine…that placed a child in danger of serious physical injury or death, a Class D felony.

* Betty S. Anderson was indicted for alleged criminal mischief first degree when on or about April 15 the defendant destroyed or damaged property belonging to someone else, causing a loss of more than $1,000, a Class D felony.

(Editor’s Note: An indictment is a statement of probable cause to believe an offense has been committed and further court proceedings are warranted. Those individuals named in an indictment are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.)