RICHMOND — A cross-dressing robber who allegedly struck businesses and a bank in Richmond, Berea and Danville was indicted Wednesday by a Madison County grand jury. Troy Noel Lear, 40, of Brodhead, was indicted on two counts of first-degree robbery for the Nov. 6 robbery of the Comfort Suites hotel in Richmond and the Jan. 7 robbery of a Cumberland Valley National Bank branch in Berea. Lear also is accused of committing a December robbery at a Danville check-cashing store. In all three of the robberies, the suspect was dressed as a woman, although witnesses to each hold-up identified the suspect as a man. The Berea robbery was made at gunpoint, while a hotel clerk at the Richmond robbery said the suspect was armed with an electrical “stun gun” device. Berea police arrested Lear the day after the Berea robbery when a patrol officer spotted him driving a vehicle with a license plate that matched a car witnesses said fled the robbery scene at a high rate of speed. During an interview with Lear, Berea investigators say he confessed to all three robberies, according to Chief David Gregory. The Richmond, Berea and Danville police departments collaborated on the investigations along with Kentucky State Police and the Rockcastle County Sheriff because of the similarities between all three robberies. Lear is lodged in the Madison County Detention Center. If convicted, he faces 10 to 20 years in prison on each count of first-degree robbery. Other indictments • A grand jury returned nine felony counts and several misdemeanors against a woman accused of driving under the influence, fleeing police and endangering others. Elisa G. Satterfield, no age or address listed, was indicted on eight counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, first-degree fleeing or evading police, aggravated driving under the influence charges and misdemeanor charges of driving on a suspended license and failure to maintain insurance. The wanton endangerment charges stem from Satterfield allegedly “creating a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury” to two police officers and several drivers along US 25. Satterfield refused a blood alcohol test and was speeding in excess of 30 mph above the speed limit, according to the indictment. She also was indicted on a first-degree persistent felony offender charge that escalates all nine Class D felony charges, meaning she could receive a prison sentence of five to 10 years on each charge. (KSP) • Andrew Jackson Jones, no age or address listed, was indicted on a single count of first-degree possession of a controlled substance, cocaine. If convicted, Jones could receive up to five years in prison. (RPD) • Jason Arthur Rhorer, no age or address listed, was indicted on a single count of first-degree possession of a controlled substance, morphine, and was cited for failure to maintain insurance. If convicted, he could receive up to five years in prison on the possession charge and could be fined or jailed for the insurance charge. (KSP) • Christopher L. Long, no age or address listed, was indicted on a single count of first-degree possession of a controlled substance, methadone, and a misdemeanor public intoxication charge. If convicted, Long could receive up to five years in prison for the possession charge and up to six months in jail on the public intoxication charge. (RPD) An indictment is a formal statement of charges and does not imply guilt. Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694. For breaking news, follow Brian at www.twitter.com/ RR_BSmith.
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‘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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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