Johnson Co. Grand Jury Indicts Nine
By Lilly Adkins
BSN Associate Editor
PAINTSVILLE — The Johnson County Grand Jury issued nine true bills.
•Steven R. Barnett, 54, of Auxier, is charged with driving DUI suspended license; operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, third offense within ten years; first-degree persistent felony offender; failure of owner to maintain required insurance and failure to produce an insurance card.
On or before July 8, Barnett allegedly operated a motor vehicle while impaired, while his license was suspended for a violation of KRS 189a.010 with two prior convictions of this offense within 10 years; he operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other substances that impair a driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle with two prior convictions within 10 years; he’s a twice, previously convicted felon; he operated a motor vehicle upon a Kentucky roadway without the required insurance and without being in possession of an insurance verification card.
•Caleb Tackett, 42, of Staffordsville, is charged with second-degree burglary; theft by unlawful taking over $1,000 and first-degree persistent felony offender.
On or about July 14, Tackett allegedly remained in a dwelling house owned by Nick Johnson with the intent to commit the crime of theft; he took an air conditioner and a catalytic converter owned by Johnson, with a total loss of $1,286.25 and he is a twice previously convicted felon.
•Stephen Nicholas Jarnecke, 29, of Van Lear, is charged with first-degree fleeing or evading police on foot; second-degree persistent felony offender; three counts of third-degree assault of a police officer; third-degree terroristic threatening and resisting arrest.
On or before June 17, Jarnecke allegedly attempted fled from Johnson County Deputy Isaac Owens, and Kentucky State Police Troopers, Matt Smith and Tracy Salyer after commands and verbal signals and signs were made with the attempt to elude or flee, while the officers were acting in their official capacity; he is a previously convicted felon; he caused physical injury, or attempted to cause physical injury, and spitting on Deputy Owens, while he was acting in his official capacity; Jarnecke also attempted to cause physical injury, to KSP Troopers Smith and Salyer, while they were acting in their official capacity; he threatened to commit any crime likely to result in death or serious physical injury to another person, namely Owens, Smith and Salyer, while they were actin gin their official capacity and he attempted to prevent Owens, Smith and Salyer from effecting an arrest by using, or threatening to use physical force against the officers.
•Kayla Simpkins, 34, and Ronald Sammons, 32, both of Paintsville, are charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance/complicity and possession/use drug paraphernalia/complicity.
On or before July 29, Simpkins and Sammons, acting alone or in complicity with each other were allegedly in possession of Heroin and syringes.
•Kayla Simpkins, 34, of Paintsville, is charged in a second indictment with first-degree promoting contraband and second-degree persistent felony offender.
On or about July 30, Simpkins introduced, obtained or possessed a controlled substance into the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, namely Heroin and she is a previously convicted felon.
•Brian Wilson, 30, of Hager Hill, is charged with two counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance/firearm enhancement.
On or before July 29, Wilson, acting alone or in complicity with Shelly Meade and Abigail Price were allegedly in possession of Heroin and Methamphetamine, $1,861 in cash, $348 in cash, multiple sets of scales, syringes containing a liquid substance, with the intent to traffic those substances while being in possession of a .9mm handgun.
•Shelly Meade, 41, of Paintsville, is charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance; trafficking a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school-complicity and first-degree persistent felony offender.
On or before July 29, Meade acting alone or in complicity with Brian Wilson and Abigail Price were allegedly in possession of Heroin, $1,861 in cash, $348 in cash, multiple sets of digital scales, syringes containing a liquid substance with the intent to traffic Heroin; Mead was in possession of marijuana, $348 in cash and digital scales with the intent to traffic marijuana, or by trafficking in Methamphetamine while within 1,000 yards of Paintsville High School; she is a twice previously convicted felon.
•Abigail Price, 22, of Hager Hill, is charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
On or before July 29, Price, acting alone or in complicity with Brian Wilson, was allegedly in possession of Methamphetamine, $1,861 in cash, $348 in cash, multiple sets of digital scales, syringes containing a liquid substance with the intent to traffic in Methamphetamine.
(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.)