A Lexington man who pleaded guilty Thursday during a pretrial conference in Madison Circuit Court to three charges involving fleeing police, criminal mischief and drugs was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Tyrone Hartsfield, 31, of Kilkenny Drive, pleaded guilty to first-degree fleeing or evading police, first-degree criminal mischief and first-degree possession of a controlled substance first offense (cocaine). Nine misdemeanor charges were dropped.
Madison Circuit Judge Jean Chenault Logue recommended that Hartsfield serve five years on the fleeing charge, one year on the criminal mischief charge and two years on the controlled substance charge.
His sentences are to be served consecutively, Logue said.
When Hartsfield was indicted by a Madison grand jury in September, he originally was charged with fleeing or evading police, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, menacing, wanton endangerment, unlawful imprisonment, possession of a controlled substance, reckless driving, criminal mischief, tampering with physical evidence and failure to maintain automobile insurance.
Hartsfield was first spotted in the early morning hours of Aug. 27 by Richmond Police Officer Kurt Heatherton on patrol in the downtown area.
Spotting a gold Honda Accord occupied by a male and female parked close to the Home Lumber Co. on North Third St., at 1:42 a.m., the officer stopped to investigate.
As he neared the car, the driver, later identified as Hartsfield, started the vehicle and despite Heatherton’s commands for him to stop, started to flee the scene, said Sgt. Willard Reardon at the time of the indictment. Reardon serves as the public information officer for the Richmond Police Department.
Moving away from the area, Hartsfield was next spotted traveling north on Red House Road by Officer Joe Johnson.
“Officer Johnson initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and Hartsfield stopped in the driveway of 1509 Red House Road, but refused orders to turn off the vehicle and exit,” Reardon said.
Hartsfield then allegedly accelerated up the driveway of the home and around a barn located on the property, police said.
Following the winding trail of the vehicle, officers observed that Hartsfield had driven through three wooden fences on the property — unleashing three horses as he crashed through — before becoming stuck on an embankment.
Hartsfield, who police say appeared to be “intoxicated and belligerent,” was taken into custody.
As he was being searched by police, money fell from Hartsfield’s pocket, police said.
“He stepped on the money and was rubbing it with his foot,” Reardon said. “When the money was retrieved by officers it was found to contain a small quantity of suspected cocaine.”
“In the money was a small yellow baggie with a yellowish substance inside,” Johnson said. “When it was tested, it was cocaine.”
The nine other charges against Hartsfield were dropped after agreeing with the commonwealth to plead guilty to the three felony counts.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.
Local News
Man to serve eight years for drugs, fleeing
- Local News
-
-
‘She wasn’t just a teacher’ : Lambert retires after 43 years at Berea
Scroll to the bottom of the story to read "Love for Lambert: Berea graduates share memories of their teacher," as well as a list of other Berea retirees this year.
Writer’s Note: Brenda Lambert is the reason I write articles today (Class of 2000).
Years ago, a little blonde-haired girl from Rockcastle County gathered her friends to “play school” in a 10-by-10 foot playhouse her father built.
Even at 12 years old, Brenda Lambert knew she wanted to be a teacher one day.
“I always felt like an old person trapped in a young person's body,” said Lambert, who is retiring after 43 years of service to Berea Community School. -
Special Olympics return for 18th year at EKU
Next weekend, the Special Olympics Kentucky State Summer Games return to Eastern Kentucky University campus. This is the 18th consecutive year EKU has hosted the event.
The games will be Friday through June 2. About 1,300 athletes will compete this year. -
Assault charges reduced, dismissed by grand jury
Two men arrested in connection with serious assaults had their charges reduced, and in one case dismissed, by a Madison grand jury.
Jerry Wayne Edington, 34, of Berea Road, was charged Jan. 19 with second-degree assault after an altercation at the Blue Moon bar on East Irvine Street, according to a Richmond police report. -
Dump of the Day
The Dump of the Day is a recurring series the newspaper publishes to highlight illegal trash piles and push local governments to cite perpetrators and get illegal dumps cleaned up. See Page A7 in Sunday's paper to read a copy of the city’s ordinance related to trash pickup.
-
Paradise Cove open through Labor Day
Opening day of Paradise Cove Family Aquatic Center coincided with a spike in temperatures Friday which reached 90 degrees. The facility, located in Richmond’s Lake Reba Park, will be open through Sept. 3. Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
-
Dump of the Day
An old mattress, a car seat and other debris sit Friday afternoon on North Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets where it was first spotted Thursday. The “Dump of the Day” is a recurring series the Richmond Register publishes to highlight illegal trash piles and push local governments to cite perpetrators and get illegal dumps cleaned up. See Sunday’s Richmond Register to read a copy of the city’s ordinance related to trash pickup.
-
Undefeated academic team brings pride to Madison Middle School
Madison Middle School 6th and 7th grade academic teams have been undefeated for the last two years.
The 8th grade team also has done well, having some students qualify to compete at the state level. -
Woman fends off burglar with knife
A Berea woman used a kitchen knife to fend off an alleged burglar early Wednesday morning, and police say they were able to catch the man in the act.
-
Man is indicted on additional sex charge involving teen in 1998
A man already accused of sex abuse in November 2011 has been indicted on a charge of first-degree rape involving a child in 1998.
Charles W. Peyton, 63, of East Irvine Street, was indicted Wednesday by a Madison grand jury. He used “forcible compulsion” to have sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl between March 1 and May 1 in 1998, according to the indictment. -
Woman fends off burglar with knife
A Berea woman used a kitchen knife to fend off an alleged burglar early Wednesday morning, and police say they were able to catch the man in the act.
Officers responded to a call in the 1000 block of Scaffold Cane Road about a man trying to break into a home, according to a release from BPD Public Information Officer Jake Reed. - More Local News Headlines
-
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
