Charges of possession of counterfeit money against a Georgia man will go forward after a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Madison District Court.
Charles Demetrius Simmons, 45, of Atlanta, faces five counts of first-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument after he was arrested Oct. 6 outside Walmart on the Eastern Bypass.
Richmond police officer Garry Murphy testified that Simmons allegedly had attempted to use four counterfeit $100 bills to purchase a laptop computer at the store around 5 p.m.
Employees at the store denied the transaction after a cashier noticed that the security strip and watermark on the bills were from a $5 bill, and all of the bills had the same serial number, Murphy said.
Once the transaction was refused, Murphy said, Simmons fled on foot and attempted to get into a white Ford Crown Victoria in the store’s parking lot before running away from the store down the Eastern Bypass.
Murphy, who was responding to the report, encountered Simmons as he fled and took him into custody. A search uncovered a fifth bill in Simmons’ pocket, Murphy said.
During an interview, Simmons told police his boss had driven him from Atlanta to Richmond and gave him the bills to purchase the computer, Murphy said. Police have been unable to locate the man to confirm Simmons’ story, Murphy testified.
Madison District Judge Charles Hardin found probable cause following the hearing to send the case on to a grand jury for possible felony indictment.
Hearing interrupted
A preliminary hearing against a man charged by Berea police with possession of Xanax and cocaine was abruptly halted for a bench conference that resulted in a plea to misdemeanor charges.
Michael R. Cook, 32, of the 200 block of Water Street, Berea, had been arrested Oct. 24 after being pulled over for driving on a suspended license, a Berea police officer testified.
During a search of Cook’s person, two bottles of Xanax and a small baggie of marijuana were found, the officer testified, and a search of Cook’s car uncovered a plastic bag of cocaine.
That search of the car apparently was the reason for the bench conference between Madison County Attorney Marc Robbins, defense attorney Valetta Browne and Hardin, as Robbins asked the officer where Cook was during the search of the car, which was conducted as a “search incident to arrest,” according to the testimony.
A recent Supreme Court decision, Arizona v. Gant, set limits on when and how police officers are permitted to search vehicles following an arrest.
Following the conference, Robbins introduced a motion to amend the first-degree possession of cocaine charge to a misdemeanor attempt charge and Cook pleaded guilty to that charge as well as the misdemeanor marijuana and Xanax possession charges and the driving on a suspended license charge.
Cook was sentenced by Hardin to 180 days in jail, 150 of which are probated for two years. The remaining 30 days will be served under home incarceration, and Cook will be required to pay court costs.
Robbins said Wednesday afternoon that the decision to deal with an evidence suppression issue in district court was unusual but correct.
“It was a just resolution based on the facts,” Robbins said. “The officer did nothing wrong, it was just a close case.”
Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.
Local News
Fake cash case goes to grand jury
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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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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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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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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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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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(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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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. -
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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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