The Wayne County Outlook …

Posted January 30, 2019 at 2:58 pm

The man accused of abusing his stepdaughters and keeping the elder one hidden for more than two months must now find a new attorney.

Daniel Paul York, 51, of Somerset, was indicted last August on a total of 25 counts including first-degree rape and attempted first-degree rape, five counts of third degree rape, kidnapping, three counts of third degree sodomy, nine counts of incest, two counts of first degree unlawful transaction with a minor, unlawful use of electronic means to induce a minor to engage in sexual/prohibited activity, theft of identity, and cultivation of marijuana, five or more plants.

He is being held in the Pulaski County Detention Center in lieu of a $2 million cash-only bond.

The charges involve York’s alleged abuse of his stepdaughters, the elder of which disappeared from her foster home in Monticello on March 15, 2018 and was found safe May 31 with York at the Ky. 461 residence of Kevin Gil Prewitt, 57, of Somerset.

In a separate indictment, Prewitt and 48-year-old Ken Morris Richardson were charged with complicity to kidnapping of a minor.

Prewitt was released on a $33,000 cash bond in November. Richardson remains lodged at the Pulaski County Detention Center in lieu of a $100,000 cash bond.

All three defendants were scheduled to appear last Thursday before Pulaski Circuit Judge Jeffrey Burdette for pretrial conferences.

However, York appeared stunned in court by the news that his attorney, Dan Carman, had filed a motion to withdraw from the case. “I had no idea,” he told Judge Burdette.

Carman had filed the motion on January 10 but was in court beside his client.

Judge Burdette advised them that he would sign an order granting the motion but would continue the case until February 21 to give York time to find another attorney. He also ordered that York be evaluated to determine if he qualifies for the appointment of a public defender.

Upon Carman and York exiting the courtroom, Judge Burdette briefly conferred with Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney David Dalton, Richardson’s attorney, Robert Norfleet, and Prewitt’s attorney, Lucas Joyner. The co-defendants were ultimately not called–indicating their pretrial conferences have also been continued until next month.

The trial is currently scheduled to begin on April 1.