Johnson County hands down March indictments

By Roberta Cantrell

BSN Editor

The Johnson County grand jury handed down 13 indictments in their March meeting.

Among those charged were, William Clifton (Cliff) Pelfrey, 60, of Staffordsville, owner of Venture Home Again, with seven counts of knowingly abusing or neglecting an adult.

According to the indictment, Pelfrey acted in complicity with William Keith Adams, 60, of Paintsville, who was also charged.

The indictment stated that on March 8, both men acting in complicity committed the offense of knowingly abused/neglected an adult, by person by knowingly abusing another by inflicting injury, sexual abuse, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or punishment that resulted in physical pain or injury, included mental injury and neglecting another by depriving another, namely an adult whom is unable to perform or obtain himself or herself goods or services that are necessary to maintain his or her welfare, or depriving one of services by a caretaker that are necessary to maintain the health and welfare of an adult.

This is a class C felony charge punishable by five to 10 years in prison and a fine of no more than $10,000 if convicted.

A case from 2024 is still ongoing against Pelfrey in Hart County where he was indicted on similar charges in relation to Hart County Manor, another assisted living facility owned by Pelfrey.

Pelfrey was arrested on the indictment Monday, March 24, but is currently out on bond.

John Fugitt, 35, of Louisa, was charged with two counts possession of a handgun by a convicted felon when on Dec. 18, 2024, he was found to be unlawfully in possession of a two Smith and Wesson .38 caliber handguns after being convicted of a felony in Marion County Circuit Court.

John Fugitt, 35, of Louisa, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, operating a motor vehicle under the influence and no tail lamps when on Dec. 18, 2024, he was found to unlawfully be in possession of .739 grams of Methamphetamine and driving under the influence of alcohol.

James Blanton, 43, of Hager Hill, was charged with first degree fleeing/evading police, third degree fleeing and evading police, driving DUI suspended third offense or greater within 10 years (aggravating circumstances), persistent felony offender and speeding 23 mph or greater.

The indictment states that on Jan. 16, Blanton unlawfully committed the offense of attempting to elude Trooper Matt Smith with the Kentucky State Police while driving a vehicle.

Blanton also then tried to elude the trooper on foot and was caught driving on a DUI suspended license.

William Blair, 63, of Paintsville, was charged with first degree wanton endangerment, possession of drug paraphernalia when on Jan. 20, he committed the offense of knowingly and unlawfully engaging in conduct that created danger of injury or death to two juvenile children and was found to be in possession of multiple needles and syringes.

Stephanie Young, 47, of Prestonsburg, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and public intoxication when on Jan. 4, she was found to be unlawfully in possession of Methamphetamine and manifestly under the influence of a controlled substance to the degree they could be a danger to themselves or others.

Terry Daniels, 48, of Thalka, was charged with first degree possession of a controlled substance, first degree possession of a controlled substance, 2 counts of first degree wanton endangerment, persistent felony offender, possession of marijuana and use/possess drug paraphernalia. The indictment states that on Jan. 20, Daniels committed the offense of unlawfully being in possession of .995 grams of Methamphetamine and .739 grams of Methamphetamine. Daniels was also said to be engaging in conduct that created substantial danger of death or physical injury to two juvenile children. He was also in possession of marijuana and several syringes.

Richard Tyler Harvey, 29, of Paintsville, was charged with first degree possession of a controlled substance, use/possession of drug paraphernalia, theft by unlawful taking public intoxication and third degree fleeing/evading police.

The indictment states that on Jan. 27, Tyler committed the offense of unlawfully being in possession of Methamphetamine and a used syringe. He also unlawfully took $105 worth of hand tools from WalMart of Paintsville, was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance and attempted to flee from Constable Ricky Keeton.

Charles Hammond, 46, of Paintsville, was charged with theft by unlawful taking, persistent felony offender and criminal mischief first degree when on Dec. 12, 2024, he unlawfully committed the offense of taking approximately 700 feet of “600” type pair fiber optic line owned by AT&T with a value of $10,000.

David King, 76, of Paintsville, was charged with possession of a handgun by a convicted felon when on Jan. 8, he was found to be unlawfully in possession of a .45 caliber Advance Manufacturing Tactical brand handgun after being convicted of a felony in Pike County.

Bobby Ward, 38, of Paintsville, was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, persistent felony offender, possession of marijuana, operating motor vehicle on suspended/revoked license, no registration receipt, failure to produce insurance card.

The indictment states that on Feb. 19, Ward committed the offense of unlawfully being in possession of 34.612 grams of Methamphetamine, multiple plastic baggies, $47.55 and weighing scales with the intent to traffic. He was also in possession of marijuana at the time of his arrest.

Jesse Lee Ward, 57, of Paintsville, was charged with theft by unlawful taking and persistent felony offender when on Nov. 19, he committed the offense of unlawfully taking a 2015 Honda motorcycle valued at $1,399.97 and a tool box with tools value not exceeding $10,000.

(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.)