Three Georgia residents who face multiple counts in Kentucky and other states, were among individuals indicted last Thursday, April 9 by a Clinton County Grand Jury.

Star A. Brown, 25, Sarr T. Babacar, 31, and Belane G. Makonnen, 24, were all charged with 20 counts each of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree for allegedly “possessing or uttering 20 debit/gift cards, with the knowledge they were forged, with the intent to defraud.” The offenses occurred on or about March 19, according to the true bills handed down by the grand jury.

It was on that aforementioned date that Clinton County Sheriff Jim Guffey and Constable Rick Stearns, after responding to a BOLO (be on the lookout) and request for assistance from Pickett County, Tennessee authorities that they had apprehended the suspects at Hunley’s Marathon Station at Static. The occupants, who were driving a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic LT, all had Georgia identification.

Upon further investigation and obtaining a search warrant of the vehicle, several cartons of cigarettes and individual packs of cigarettes were found, along with 48 gift cards, 34 of which the numbers had been altered and almost $2,900 in cash.

At the time, all three were all charged with 20 counts each of fraudulent use of a credit card, possession of a forged instrument second degree and theft by unlawful taking.

Apparently the trio allegedly used the altered cards to make large purchases for resale and may also be facing charges in other states, including neighboring Tennessee.

All three defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in Clinton County on May 15.

In other indictments returned:

* James B. Abston, the alleged offenses of receiving stolen property and persistent felony offender first degree, by retaining or disposing of a 22 ton wood splitter having a value of more than $500 after having been stood convicted of a prior felony offense within the past five years.

* Chad Guffey, the alleged offenses of receiving stolen property and persistent felony offender second degree, by retaining or disposing of an X-box 1, three controllers and an NBA 2K15 with a value of more than $500 and committed the offense after having been stood convicted of a prior felony offense within the past five years.

* Jacob Stearns, the alleged offenses of operating a motor vehicle under the influence; third degree assault when he used physical force while Trooper Jason Warinner was trying to restrain him; harassment (class B misdemeanor); failure to maintain insurance on a motor vehicle (class B misdemeanor); and disorderly conduct second degree (class B misdemeanor).

* Stephanie Brittney Haynes Latham, the alleged offense of promoting contraband first degree by introducing a suboxen strip into the Clinton County Jail, then swallowing it.

* William York, the alleged offense of flagrant nonsupport for failing to provide support for his minor child or children, failure to pay having caused an arrearage of $2,933.38 as of April 9.

[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 within an indictment are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.]