A Richmond man will serve eight years in prison for beating his wife with a lamp and killing her dog after entering a guilty plea Thursday in Madison Circuit Court.
Samuel Vorhees pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, torture of a dog, theft by failure to make required disposition of property, theft by deception and violating an emergency protective order as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Vorhees, 39, was charged in connection with a Feb. 5 incident at his home in the 400 block of Big Hill Avenue. Police said Vorhees’ wife suffered a broken left arm and numerous bruises after he beat her with a wooden lamp and then fled before returning later to stab her dog to death with a knife.
The theft charges stemmed from the discovery following the incident that Vorhees had pawned a garden tiller and lawn mower belonging to his father-in-law without permission.
As part of the agreement, Vorhees was sentenced to five years in prison for the assault, three years for torture, one year each on the theft charges and 12 months in jail for the protective order violation and will serve eight years in prison.
An evaluation by the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center in La Grange determined Vorhees suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, his attorney, public defender Sarah Bryant said.
A competency hearing was conducted last month to determine if Vorhees was competent to stand trial in the case.
Britton employees
The four former employees of a defunct Berea car dealership indicted last month on theft charges were arraigned before Madison Circuit Judge Jean C. Logue, and one argued for a reduction in his bond.
Former Britton Chevrolet employees Darian Jones, Don Wilson, Danny Sweet and president Clifford Chambers are charged in connection with the dealership’s alleged failure to pay off liens against vehicles that were traded in, selling vehicles that had liens against them, failure to pay vehicle transfer fees and usage taxes and forging documents showing liens had been terminated against vehicles the dealership sold.
Chambers and his attorneys argued for a reduction in the $10,000 cash bond he was required to post following the indictment. His co-defendants were not required to post a bond because they had cooperated with Berea Police Department investigators looking into the dealership’s failure, Commonwealth’s Attorney David Smith told Logue.
Logue agreed to reduce Chambers’ bond to a 10 percent bond following a discussion between attorneys from both sides.
Smith said additional indictments may be issued in the case regarding non-payment of taxes from several vehicle sales the dealership made.
Britton Chevrolet closed in January 2009 after more than 50 years in business, and several customers reported difficulty with transferring ownership and registering vehicles they had purchased in the months preceding the dealership’s closure.
Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.
Local News
Man pleads to assault, killing dog
Britton employees arraigned
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Judge weighs constitutionality of legislative redistricting
Kentucky’s deadline for filing to run for legislative seats was in flux on Monday because a judge did not immediately rule on a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of newly redrawn district boundaries.
Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said he expects to enter a ruling in the case by mid-week.
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Couple recovering from injuries suffered in weekend house fire
A couple was hospitalized after their home was set ablaze Sunday by a spark from a cigar, according to a county fire official.
County Fire Chief Jim Cox said the city and county fire departments were called to the home at 111 Concord Road in the early afternoon. Waco Volunteer Fire Department and the Richmond Fire Department also responded.
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EKU closes dining room at Arlington Clubhouse
A Richmond country club is no longer offering dining to members, but remains available for catered events and will be open on certain holidays.
Arlington Country Club, which has been a staple of Eastern Kentucky University for the past 40 years, laid off all dining staff late last week, according to Tom Coffey of the EKU Foundation.
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Standoff at Super 8 Motel ends peacefully
A bizarre drug-fueled standoff at the Richmond Super 8 Motel ended peacefully with no one hurt, including a child who was in the room with a man that police found wielding two knives.
About 1:53 a.m. Friday, police received a call about a man who was threatening someone with a knife at the motel on North Keeneland Drive, according to Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock.
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Trial for couple accused of human trafficking delayed
The trial for a Berea couple accused of human trafficking involving their daughters has been delayed.
Despite Monday morning television reports that the trial was beginning Monday, it was postponed because the attorneys are not ready to try the case.
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Richmond man charged with child porn possession
(Editor’s note: The following story contains graphic information some readers may find offensive.)
A Richmond man has been arrested for possession of child pornography as a result of a nearly one-year investigation by local police.
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Noted author to deliver keynote address for Black History Month
Almost a year ago, Arnold Rampersad stood in the East Room of the White House as he was presented the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama.
On Thursday, Feb. 16, the noted author will stand in O’Donnell Hall of Eastern Kentucky University’s Student Success Building to deliver the keynote address for the university’s Black History Month observance. Rampersad’s visit is also part of Eastern’s year-long Chautauqua lecture series, and the title of his talk, “Black History: The Challenge of Living with Others,” coincides with this year’s Chautauqua theme, “Living with Others: Challenges and Promises.” -
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of Madison and Clark Counties, which has built 160 homes for people in need since 1992, is seeking applicants for partner families, according to Judy Flavell, executive director of the organization.
“We really need applicants right now,” Flavell said. “More people can qualify for Habitat homes than people realize.”
Eligible applicants must have lived in Madison or Clark counties for at least one year, have a stable income, be able to pay a modest monthly mortgage and be able to demonstrate that their current housing is overcrowded, physically substandard, too expensive, unsafe, or they are living in subsidized housing, according to Habitat.
For more information about eligibility, or to apply, call Habitat for Humanity at 625-9208 or visit its office at 1417 East Main Street in Richmond. Visit online at habitatmadisonclark.org. -
Occupational therapy dept. at EKU offers program for adults with memory loss
For local adults who are experiencing memory loss related to dementia or Alzheimer’s, the Department of Occupational Therapy at Eastern Kentucky University has provided “The Place to Be” for the past two decades.
The department will again sponsor the free eight-week program on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., beginning Feb. 9. Participants can attend Thursday and/or Friday. Applications still are being accepted (call 893-0653) for the free service, which is offered in Room 100 of the Dizney Building on EKU’s campus. -
Bible Belt towns in state consider going ‘wet’
In this Appalachian college town where socially conservative views are bedrocks of life, some people want to do what was once unthinkable: legalize liquor sales.
Supporters say passing the measure in Tuesday’s special election in Barbourville would tap a new revenue source in a place where hundreds of jobs are evaporating as one plant shuts down and another cuts its workforce in half. But from the pulpits to the courthouse square, opponents have been pressing their case that uncorking liquor sales would irreparably harm the town of about 3,200. - More Local News Headlines
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