Man charged with theft in Louisa bank robbery
By Lilly Adkins
BSN Associate Editor
LOUISA — The Lawrence County Grand Jury returned 16 indictments Thursday, including one against a man accused of taking money from Citizens Bank of Kentucky in Louisa.
Seth Frank, 33, of Louisa, is charged with theft by unlawful taking over $500 and endangering the welfare of a minor.
On June 10, Frank allegedly took $2,342 in cash from Citizens Bank in Louisa and failed or refused to exercise diligence in the control of a minor to prevent the child from becoming a neglected, dependent or delinquent child, according to the indictment.
Others named in true bills were:
• Amanda Burchett, 41, and Melvin Harmon, 30, both of Blaine, and Clarence Childers, 50, of Louisa, charged with third-degree burglary/complicity for allegedly, acting alone or in complicity with each other, entering a building belonging to Tommy Milburn of Blaine with the intent to commit theft on June 19.
• Billy Turner, 29, of Fallsburg, charged with second-degree robbery for allegedly committing theft of a wallet from Shannon Turner of Fallsburg and using or threatening the immediate use of physical force in an attempt to accomplish the theft on May 24.
• Amity R. Hinkle, 31, of Louisa, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and inadequate silencer for allegedly possessing heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, a modified straw and three syringes and operating a vehicle on the roadway without a suitable and efficient muffler on Oct. 23, 2020.
• James West, 57, of Louisa, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on June 1 while having a prior conviction of possession of a controlled substance.
• Tonya R. Hensley, 44, and Robert A. Gillespie, both of Louisa, are charged with first degree possession of a controlled substance/complicity and drug paraphernalia-buy/possess/complicity for allegedly, acting alone or in complicity with each other, possessing methamphetamine, a coin purse and a bandana used for the storage of controlled substance and three syringes on April 26.
• George E. Moore, 54, of Louisa, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, second-degree possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia-buy/possess for allegedly possessing heroin, gabapentin, Xanax and a red tin used for the storage of controlled substances on May 21.
• Robert Ratliff, 46, of Paintsville, charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, more than two grams, for allegedly possession methamphetamine with the intent to traffic on April 3.
• Kenneth L. Fitch, 47, of Louisa, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing methamphetamine, a needle and a pipe on June 24.
• David M. Ferguson, 53, of Blaine, charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, greater than two grams, and tampering with physical evidence for allegedly possessing eight grams of heroin and $443 in cash with the intent to traffic on June 3 and unlawfully destroying, removing, altering or concealing physical evidence that he believed would be used against him in an official proceeding.
• Sonya Fitzgerald, 32, of Louisa, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on June 3.
• Kimberly M. Smith, 53, of Louisa, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with physical evidence for allegedly possessing methamphetamine, multiple needles and an altered straw on May 6, and destroying, removing, altering or concealing physical evidence that she believed would be used against her in an official proceeding.
• Troy Tackett, 25, of Louisa, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance and no tail lamps for allegedly possessing methamphetamine and operating a motor vehicle while the motor vehicle had non-functioning tail lamps on June 1.
(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.)