17 Indicted in Lawrence County

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

LOUISA —The Lawrence County Grand Jury issued 17 true bills on Sept. 14, one for a man charged with sex offenses against a minor less than 16-years-old.

•Anthony Ratliff, 19, address unknown, is charged with first-degree unlawful transaction with a minor less than 16-years-old; second-degree rape; tampering with physical evidence; first-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On or about April 9, Ratliff allegedly induced, assisted or caused a minor less than 16-years-old to engage in illegal controlled substances; he engaged in sexual intercourse with a minor less than 14-years-old; he destroyed, concealed, removed or altered physical evidence, namely the contents of his cellphone with the intent to impair its verity or availability in the official proceeding; he was in possession of methamphetamine, a syringe, baggies, a scale and a cut straw.

•Jonathan E. Mollett, 35, of Louisa, is charged with theft by unlawful taking over $10,000 and second-degree persistent felony offender.

On or before May 23, Mollett allegedly took a John Deere brand Dozer valued at approximately $30,000, two sets of battery leads, from a log truck valued at $300 each and batteries from a John Deere dozer valued at $300, owned by Michael Ferguson of Flat Gap with a total value of the items taken, exceeding $10,000 and he is a previously convicted felon.

•William Joseph McCoy, 51, of Louisa, is charged with first-degree wanton endangerment; second-degree persistent felony offender and menacing.

On or before Aug. 13, McCoy allegedly engaged in conduct which created a substantial danger to another, namely his son, Justin McCoy, of Louisa; he is a previously convicted felon and placed his son in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury.

McCoy is charged in a second indictment with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

On or about Aug. 13, McCoy was in possession of a 7-7mm Ace Arms brand bolt action rifle after having been previously convicted of a felony.

•Irene Sartin, 61, and Jason Sartin, 42, both of Inez, are charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance/complicity and prescription of a controlled substance not in the proper container/complicity.

On or before Sept. 7, 2022, Irene and Jason Sartin, acting alone or in complicity with each other were allegedly in possession of methamphetamine and three Flualprazolam tablets not in the proper administered container.

•Earl Jude, 55, of Inez, is charged with two counts of first-degree possession of a controlled substance; tampering with physical evidence; first-degree persistent felony offender and possession of marijuana.

On or before Sept. 7, 2022, Jude was allegedly in possession of Fentanyl, Marijuana and Methamphetamine; he destroyed, removed, altered or concealed physical evidence that he believed would be used against him in an official proceeding and he is a previously convicted felon.

•Anthony M. Jude, 46, of Pilgrim, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession/use drug paraphernalia.

On or before July 17, Jude was allegedly in possession of methamphetamine and a syringe.

•Kenneth O. Pack, 64, and homeless, according to the officer’s report, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession/use drug paraphernalia.

On or before July 18, Pack was allegedly in possession of methamphetamine and an altered straw containing residue.

•Angela Kidd, 58, of Louisa, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession/use drug paraphernalia.

On or before Sept. 2, Kidd was allegedly in possession of methamphetamine and an altered straw.

•Sandra Perry, 45, and Charles French, 43, both of Webbville, are charged with theft by unlawful taking over $1,000/complicity.

On or before July 15, Perry and French acting alone or in complicity with each other, allegedly took a Toyota Tacoma valued at $5,000 from Reagan Young of Louisa, with an amount of the loss exceeding $1,000.

•Nicholas Ferguson, 44, of Paintsville, Jerry Honeycutt, 64, of Flat Gap, and Billy Joe Howard, 56, of Sitka are charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance/complicity.

Ferguson is additionally charged with possession/use drug paraphernalia and Howard is additionally charged with possession of marijuana; no/expired registration receipt; failure to wear seat belt; failure to produce an insurance card and inadequate silencer (muffler).

On or before July 12, Ferguson, Honeycutt and Howard, acting alone or in complicity with each other were allegedly in possession of methamphetamine.

Ferguson was also allegedly in possession of an altered glass pipe and a syringe. Howard was allegedly, additionally in possession of marijuana; operated a motor vehicle upon a Kentucky roadway without proper registration plates; without a seat belt; without an insurance card and he operated a motor vehicle upon a Kentucky roadway without a proper silencer/muffler.

•Gary Stephens, 57, of Grayson, is charged with first-degree fleeing or evading police in a motor vehicle; first-degree criminal mischief; operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs, second offense within 10 years; second-degree assault on a service animal; second-degree fleeing or evading police on foot; speeding 26 mph over the speed limit; resisting arrest; reckless driving and improper turning.

On or before July 31, Stephens allegedly disregarded signals and commands to stop given by KSP Post 14 Troopers, Colton Cross, Pat Hamilton and Zachary Wright while they were working in their official capacity, with the intent to flee, avoid or elude arrest; he damaged a 2016 Dodge Charger, KSP cruiser with the total damage to the vehicle equaling $2,148.65; he operated a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs for the second time within 10 years; he caused physical injury to a service animal by striking the animal; he fled on foot, by disobeying commands and signs to stop by the KSP who had reasonable suspicion that he had committed a crime; he operated a motor vehicle at a speed more than 81 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour speed zone he attempted to prevent troopers from effecting an arrest by using, or threatening to use physical force; he operated his motor vehicle in a reckless manner without regard for the safety and convenience of pedestrians or other vehicles upon the roadway and he conducted an improper turn at the intersection of KY 1 and KY 201 in the Webbville community.

•Randy Justice, 44, of Louisa, is charged with theft by unlawful taking over $1,000 and second-degree persistent felony offender.

From May 31, through June 5, Justice allegedly took a Coleman go cart with a value of $1,800 from Grayden Williams of Louisa, with the amount of the loss exceeding $1,000 and he is a previously convicted felon.

(Editor’s note: An indictment is not an indication of guilt but a determination by a grand jury that criminal charges warrant further judicial review.)

Andrew Mortimer