Brian Smith
A Berea man accused of shooting his wife at their home was indicted Thursday for her murder.
Hugh Philip Skidmore III, 45, was indicted by a Madison County grand jury for the Aug. 24 shooting death of 52-year-old Kimberly Skidmore at the couple’s home in the 300 block of Forest Street.
He was a codes enforcement inspector for the city of Berea who had been on military leave for approximately three years prior to the shooting, city officials said.
Berea police were called to the home early on Aug. 24 after Skidmore called 911 to report his wife had been shot once in the chest with a .45-caliber handgun, which police recovered at the scene.
A preliminary hearing in the case was waived in October in Madison District Court. At that court appearance, Skidmore’s attorney, Jim Lowery, asked the court to ensure that Skidmore was receiving medication prescribed to him following an evaluation by doctors from the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center.
If convicted, Skidmore could face life in prison.
Unlawful transaction
A grand jury also issued an indictment against a woman accused of involving children in methamphetamine and marijuana activity.
Sheri J. Hampton, no age or address listed, was indicted on two counts of first-degree unlawful transaction with a minor and two counts of second-degree unlawful transaction with a minor.
The first-degree counts stem from Hampton allegedly “inducing and assisting” two juveniles, identified in the indictment by initials, “to engage in illegal controlled substance activity involving methamphetamine,” between July 15 and Aug. 17.
The second-degree counts allege Hampton assisted two juveniles to engage in activity involving marijuana between Aug. 1 and Oct. 1.
If convicted, Hampton could receive five to 10 years in prison on each of the first-degree charges and up to five years in prison on each of the second-degree charges.
Other indictments
• Tammy Bowles Noe, no age or address listed, on theft by unlawful taking, a misdemeanor charge of theft by failure to make required disposition of property and a first-degree persistent felony offender charge. If convicted, Noe could receive an escalated sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison.
• Donnie Kindred, 30, and Charles A. Noland, 32, on one count each of receiving stolen property. Kindred also faces a first-degree persistent felony offender charge, while Noland faces a second-degree persistent offender charge. If convicted, Kindred could receive an escalated sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison, while Noland could receive an escalated sentence of five to 10 years in prison.
• Kimberly M. Thomas, no age or address listed, on one count of flagrant non-support. If convicted, Thomas could receive up to five years in prison.
• Ronnie L. Strong, no age or address listed, on one count of flagrant non-support. If convicted, Strong 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.
