Johnson County Indictments include one woman with three counts of assault on jail guards

By Roberta Cantrell

BSN Editor

The Johnson County Grand Jury handed down six true bills during their September meeting.

Steven Layne, 32, of Sitka, was charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance when on August 8 he was found to unlawfully be in possession of Methamphetamine.

Matthew Roger Owens, 50, of Paintsville, was charged with first degree promoting contraband and first-degree persistent felony when on August 28, he was unlawfully introducing, obtaining or possessing a controlled substance into the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center namely Heroin.

Hailee Joseph, 30, of Paintsville, was charged with three counts of third-degree inmate assault on correctional employee when on May 3, she committed the offense of causing or attempting to cause physical injury to Big Sandy Correctional Officers Syvetta Conley, Mahalia Howard and Sabrina Jude, while they were acting in their official capacity.

Timothy Howard, 22, of Salyersville, was charged with first-degree promoting contraband when on May 28, he unlawfully introduced, obtained or possessed Buprenorphine a Schedule II narcotic in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.

William Lemaster, 31, of Leander, was charged with first-degree promoting contraband when on May 22, he unlawfully introduced, obtained or possessed Fentanyl a Schedule I narcotic in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.

Jonathan Connelley, 59, of Hager Hill, was charged with first-degree possession of Methamphetamine, operating a motor vehicle under the influence, speeding over 15 MPH, no registration plates or registration receipt.

(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.)a