Grand jury returns burglary, drug cases

Local News

October 5, 2009

By Brian Smith The Richmond Register Mon Oct 05, 2009, 07:29 AM EDT

A burglary indictment was returned Thursday against a Richmond man who stole a purse from a woman’s apartment on Hager Drive.

Jonathan Harris, 18, is charged with second-degree burglary for an Aug. 3 incident in which he allegedly walked into an unlocked apartment on Hager Drive and grabbed the resident’s purse, which contained approximately $1,000 in cash, prescription pills and personal identification, according to police.

Harris told Kentucky State Police following his arrest that he had been threatened by a West Virginia man to steal the purse, an officer testified at a Sept. 2 preliminary hearing.

The victim in the case was able to identify Harris through a photo lineup, police said.

If convicted, Harris could receive five to 10 years in prison.

Drug trafficking charges

A McKee man faces three first-degree trafficking in controlled substances charges after being named in a pair of indictments returned Thursday.

Michael Gabbard, 36, was indicted in two cases for allegedly selling oxycodone pills.

In one case, Gabbard is a co-defendant with Tenia Gabbard, 32. Both have an incomplete address on Sycamore Drive in Richmond listed.

Michael Gabbard also faces a first-degree persistent felony offender charge.

If convicted, Tenia Gabbard could receive five to 10 years in prison, while Michael Gabbard could receive 10 to 20 years in prison for the trafficking charge because of the persistent felony offender charge.

In the other case, Michael Gabbard is a co-defendant with Brook Cody, Colby Tate and Nikki Haik. Tate faces a single trafficking charge, while Gabbard and Cody are both charged with two counts.

The indictment alleges that on Aug. 24, Gabbard, identified as living at an address in McKee, sold oxycodone to an undercover informant working for the Central Kentucky Area Drug Task Force, and sold the drug to another individual on July 1.

Tate, 22, of the 2500 block of Oakley Wells Road, allegedly sold oxycodone on June 30 to an confidential informant for the task force, the indictment states.

Cody, 26, of the 300 block of Greens Crossing Road, is accused of possessing methadone and oxycodone on July 1 with the intent to distribute the drug.

Haik, 22, also of the 300 block of Greens Crossing Road, is charged with facilitation to first-degree trafficking, a misdemeanor, for allegedly helping Cody to sell the drugs on July 1.

Gabbard also faces a first-degree persistent felony offender charge in that case.

If convicted, Cody could receive five to 10 years in prison on each trafficking charge, and Gabbard would face increased sentences of 10 to 20 years in prison on each charge because of the persistent offender charge.

Tate faces five to 10 years in prison if convicted, while Haik could receive up to 12 months in jail.

Forged prescription

The grand jury also indicted Tara W. Farley, no age or address listed, on a charge of criminal possession of a forged prescription.

Farley is accused of attempting to have an altered prescription for Percocet filled at Madison South Pharmacy in Berea.

According to the indictment, the quantity of the drug had been changed on the prescription from 14 pills to 24 pills, but the prescribing doctor had not made the change.

The Berea Police Department investigated the case. If convicted, Farley could receive up to five years in prison.

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.

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