after long COVID-19 shutdown

The COVID-19 pandemic, which over the past few months has slowed, had an impact on about every aspect of daily life, among them the judicial court system and grand juries across the state and nation.

Due to the virus, the Clinton County Grand Jury had been unable to convene, causing a backlog in cases, but that changed this month, as the local grand jury–for the first time in quite a while–was able to hold an in-person session.

A heavy load of cases were presented to the 12 member body for indictment consideration by law enforcement and local prosecutors, with the vast majority of those cases being drug related charges involving not only local residents, but out-of-county people as well.

The local grand jury was finally able to convene in-person for a monthly term on Thursday, April 8.

Since many of those who have been charged with drug related offenses, were listed in last week’s Clinton County News as being indicted by the grand jury, the indictments listed in this article include those individuals who were charged by the grand jury with other felony and/or misdemeanor offenses.

A few people named in the true bills who were previously charged with drug related offenses were only indicted by the most recent April grand jury.

The following individuals were charged and indicted by the local grand jury earlier this month.

* Andrew D. Bledsoe, the alleged offenses of theft by unlawful taking or disposition, by taking possession of two Carhart jackets, a checkbook and power tools, the movable property of another (Class D felony); receiving stolen property, Class C felony, by exercising control over a 2009 Toyota Tacoma having a value of over $10,000; criminal trespass second degree, Class B misdemeanor; criminal mischief third degree, Class B misdemeanor; possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; criminal mischief second degree; and public intoxication, misdemeanors. The alleged offenses having occurred on or about January 3, 2021.

* Walter Z. Miller, the alleged offense of resisting arrest, Class A misdemeanor; fleeing or evading police, Class D felony; reckless driving; operating a motor vehicle under the influence; driving on a suspended license; operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock, Class B misdemeanor; and persistent felony offender second degree. The alleged offenses having occurred on or about January 19, 2021.

* Richard L. Guthrie, the alleged offenses of reckless driving; improper registration plate, obscuring the identity of a machine or other property, Class D felony, when he removed serial numbers from a 1990 GMC truck, the movable property of another; receiving stolen property, Class D felony, by retaining said vehicle; and two counts of persistent felony offender second degree. The alleged offenses having occurred on or about December 23, 2020.

* Trenton Tucker, the alleged offenses of assault 3rd degree upon Deputy Richard Fuquay “when he threw a coffee pot striking Fuquay in the chest area,” Class D felony; disorderly conduct first degree, Class A misdemeanor; and, criminal mischief second degree by causing damage to the Clinton County Jail. The alleged offenses having occurred on or about April 5, 2021.

* Josh Davis, the alleged offenses of theft by unlawful taking or disposition, Class D felony, by exercising control over four aluminum wheels, a Kawasaki, four post, window, et al, the movable property of another and persistent felony offender first degree. The alleged offenses having occurred on or about January 19, 2021.

* Taylor J. Phillips, the alleged offenses of theft by unlawful taking or disposition, Class C felony, by exercising control over a 2014 Kubota tractor, the movable property of another, having a value of over $10,000 and receiving stolen property by detaining a John Deere Gator, the movable property of another, Class D felony. The alleged offenses having occurred on or about February 18, 2021.

* Kaleb Perdue, the alleged offenses of theft by unlawful taking or disposition, Class C felony, by exercising control over a 2014 Kubota tractor, the movable property of another valued at over $10,000; receiving stolen property, Class D felony, by retaining a John Deere Gator, the movable property of another; and, persistent felony offender second degree (two counts). The alleged offenses having occurred on or about February 18.

* Shannon Smith, the alleged offenses of receiving stolen property, Class C felony, by retaining seven head of cattle, the movable property of another. The alleged offense having occurred on or about November 19, 2019.

* Christopher Hayes, the alleged offense of receiving stolen property, Class C felony, by retaining seven head of cattle, the movable property of another. The alleged offense having occurred on or about November 19, 2019.

* Terry H. Phillips, Jr., the alleged offense of theft by deception over $10,000, Class C felony, two counts, by intentionally passing checks he knew would not be honored, in the amounts of $168,230.27 and $133,576.80, to Blue Grass Stockyards of Albany. The alleged offenses having occurred on or about January 14 and January 19.

* Rodney J. Manis, the alleged offense of theft by unlawful taking or disposition, Class D felony, by exercising control over four aluminum wheels, plumbing fittings, propane tank, et al., the movable property of another. The alleged offense having occurred on or about January 19, 2021.

* Stephanie Craig, the alleged offenses of criminal syndicate engaging in organized crime, Class B felony, by defendant collaborated, promoted or facilitated on a continuing basis with one or more persons, Joseph Craig and Jennifer Stockton, by committing the offense of traffick in a controlled substance; possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor; complicity to traffick in a controlled substance first degree (three counts), Class C felony; complicity to trafficking in a controlled substance second degree (two counts); complicity to traffick in a controlled substance third degree (two counts); and, possession of marijuana, misdemeanor. The alleged offenses having occurred on or about March 12, 2021.

* Amy Angel, the alleged offenses of trafficking in a controlled substance first degree, first offense, Class C felony; possession of a controlled substance first degree, Class D felony; and persistent felony offender second degree. The alleged offenses having occurred on or about March 12, 2020.

* Matthew A. May, the alleged offenses of trafficking in a controlled substance first degree, first offense, Class C felony; possession of a controlled substance first degree, Class D felony; and possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor. The alleged offenses having occurred on or about August 10, 2020.

(Editors’ 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.)