Former Wayne County Clerk Melissa Turpin pled guilty to two additional charges related to missing money that was discovered during an investigation and audit into the final 10 months she served in office.

Turpin appeared in Wayne Circuit Court on Wednesday, December 21, where information was filed by Commonwealth’s Attorney Matthew Leveridge.

Turpin was charged with abuse of a public trust over $10,000 but less than $100,000 and theft by unlawful taking over $10,000.

Leveridge stated that these charges stem from the State Auditor’s report of the final 10 months Turpin served as Wayne County Clerk and the subsequent investigation into those audit findings.

During last Wednesday’s proceeding, Turpin waived her right to formal indictment and entered a guilty plea on this new round of charges.

The final audit for Turpin covers the period from January 1, 2009 through October 20, 2009 and included a deficit of $11,512, according to the report issued by State Auditor Crit Luallen. That is the amount of restitution that Turpin will have to pay on these latest round of charges, according to the plea agreement that was signed last week.

A sentence of five years was recommended on each of the counts to run consecutive for a total of 10 years. This sentence will run concurrent with the sentence in the previous case, which was also 10 years.

The agreement notes that the sentence will be probated subject to the same terms and conditions of the prior case.

Turpin resigned as Wayne County Clerk on October 20, 2009, after pleading guilty to charges of theft and abuse of a public trust, which stemmed from deficits in audits of her office for 2007 and 2008.

She is currently on probation on those charges and is making restitution for funds that were found missing in those audits.

The plea agreement on the new charges notes that her probation will be automatically extended beyond five years for any period until Turpin pays all restitution. It also notes that Turpin is disqualified from holding public office.

Formal sentencing was set for February 21 at 9 a.m.

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The woman charged in connection with trying to attack a Family Court judge in July has entered a guilty plea to the charge of intimidating a participant in a legal process.

Melissa Hardwick entered the plea in Wayne Circuit Court on Wednesday, December 21 before Special Judge James L. Bowling, Jr.

Hardwick has been in jail since the July 13 incident in which court video shows her attempting to jump over the bench to attack Family Court Judge Jennifer Upchurch-Edwards.

Hardwick was in court that day for a hearing on a domestic violence charge that had been sought by her ex-husband.

Upchurch-Edwards was in the process of sentencing Hardwick to 10 days in jail for contempt of court for interrupting the hearing, when the incident occurred.

Hardwick reached a plea agreement with Commonwealth Attorney Matthew Leveridge, under which her sentence will be diverted for a period of five years.

If Hardwick follows the terms of the diversion, which requires that she remain drug-free, that she violate no laws and that she not have access to a handgun, then the charge will be dismissed at the end of the five years.

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The Wayne County Grand Jury met on Tuesday, December 20 and returned 12 indictments.

Among those indicted were Alphonso Duncan, Jr. and Patrick R. Stewart.

The charges stem from an armed robbery that occurred on November 19 at Reed’s Grocery.

Duncan and Stewart were indicted for first degree robbery and for theft by unlawful taking over $500, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and persistent felony offender.

Stewart was also indicted for complicity for robbery first degree and complicity to theft by unlawful taking over $500.

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Employees in the Wayne County School District will see a salary increase beginning in January, following action taken by the school board on Monday, December 19.

The Wayne County Board of Education approved a two percent salary increase for all employees, effective January 2.

They also restored three of the extended days for year round employees of the district.

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Bond will remain at $500,000 cash each for the couple accused of murder in connection with the July death of 17-month-old Staten Stephenson.

Motions to reduce bond for Kayla Lord, the toddler’s mother, and her boyfriend, Jared Futrell, were denied by Special Judge James L. Bowling, Jr. during a hearing held in Wayne Circuit Court on Wednesday, December 21.

Lord and Futrell are charged with murder and criminal abuse first degree. The charges stem from the July 27 death of Staten Stephenson who officials say died as a result of blunt force trauma. The boy had been on life support for approximately 10 days at the University of Kentucky Medical Center when he died.

During last week’s hearing, James Cox, who represents Futrell, asked that his bond be reduced to $50,000, with 10 percent posted. He stated that his client, if released on bond, would be supervised by his father, Ricky Futrell.

Ricky Futrell was one of two witnesses questioned during last week’s hearing. He testified regarding incidents that occurred early on July 16, when Staten was found unresponsive and taken to the local hospital. Ricky Futrell talked about giving the boy CPR and how he instructed his son on how to continue the life-saving measure as they drove to the Wayne County Hospital.

Detective Derek Lester with the Monticello Police Department has served as lead investigator for the case and he was also questioned as part of the bond hearing.

Lester testified to basic issues of the case that have been discussed at previous preliminary hearings.

A trial date has been set for June 11 in the case. Bowling also set March 21 at 9 a.m. for a pretrial conference to deal with any motions that may be filed before the trial.