Two more convicted in unrelated trial

Reporter

tdunn@gcnewsgazette.com

Two Leitchfield men were found guilty and sentenced to a total of 16 years after their three-day trial ended May 23th.

After deliberation, the jury returned to open court and found Gary Johnson, 35, of 971 Phelps Road, Leitchfield guilty of being a Persistent Felony Offender and sentenced him to 12 years confinement in the county jail.

Johnson was also found guilty of fourth degree assault, in which the jury recommended a sentence of 12 months. The jury also recommended sentences of 12 years for his conviction of criminal mischief for destroying property of the Grayson County Sheriff's Department; another 12 year sentence for for destroying the property of Linda Haydon; and one year in prison and a $1,000 fine for leaving the scene of an accident.

Finally, Johnson was convicted of owning or operating a motor vehicle without insurance and sentenced to 90 days and a $1,000 fine.

All these sentences are to run concurrent for a total of 12 years.

In the same trial, the court dismissed the charge of assault in the first degree and any resulting lesser charges and the charge of first degree criminal mischief for Troy Stewart, 37, of 107 Central Avenue, Leitchfield.

The jury returned a guilty verdict on Stewart for first degree criminal mischief on the property of the GC Sheriff Department sentencing him to four years in the county jail.

Stewart was also found guilty of complicity to leaving the scene of an accident and sentenced to one year and $1,000 fine and Public Intoxication with a fine of $100.

His sentences are to run concurrent for a total of four years.

The charges come from an accident that occurred on November 11, 2006.

According to Grayson County Sheriff Department report, Johnson was traveling east on US 62 when his vehicle dropped off the right shoulder of the roadway.

Stewart, a passenger in the car, stated he grabbed the steering wheel in an attempt to correct the vehicle. The car then crossed the yellow line and hit the 1994 Pontiac Grand AM, driven by Haydon.

Both subjects fled the scene and were later apprehended, reported Matt Darst, a GC Deputy Sheriff.

In a separate trial on May 31, 2007, the case of Jake Embry, Jr. and Christina Hinkle-Embry came before the jury in Grayson County Circuit Court. The two were earlier indicted on charges of theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $300 or more and being persistent felony offenders.

The jury found both defendants guilty on all charges.

The jury recommended a sentence of ten years confinement in the GC Jail for the duo.

The police report stated a complaint was filed against the defendants for stealing a radiator valued at more than $300 belonging to Tommy Glascock on August 26, 2007.

Both defendants were also convicted of being persistent felony offenders in the first degree because they were peviosusly convicted of two or more felonies in Grayson Circuit Court.

Formal sentencing for the defendants is set for July 17, 2007.