A trial date was set in Christian Circuit Court for three of four women facing child abuse charges that allegedly occurred at the First United Methodist Church daycare in Hopkinsville over two years ago.
Former church pastor Paige Williams and daycare workers Allison Simpson and Nina Morgan, along with their defense attorneys and Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling appeared in Christian Circuit Court before Judge John Atkins Wednesday morning.
Judge Atkins set a jury trial for the three women for November 15-19 with the case of former daycare employee Abby Leach continued for a possible resolution.
click to download audioA grand jury returned superseding indictments in April for Williams and Leach charging them with eight counts of first-degree complicity of criminal abuse of a child 12 or under. They were previously indicted in August 2019 on one count of first-degree complicity of criminal abuse of a child under 12.
Hopkinsville, KY, USA / WHOP 1230 AM | News Radio
Apr 28, 2021 10:18 AM
A trial date was set Wednesday morning in Christian Circuit Court for retired Hopkinsville Police Lt. Jefferson Alexander as the Kentucky Court of Appeals considers matters in his perjury case.
Attorney Eric Eaton filed a motion with the Court of Appeals in March asking them to compel Judge John Atkins to grant a motion filed by a previous special prosecutor to dismiss charges against Alexander.
Assistant Attorney General Jim Lesousky is representing the Commonwealth now and told Judge John Atkins Wednesday that he was prepared to set a trial date a few months out so they’ll be ready if the Court of Appeals rules against the defense.
Hopkinsville, KY, USA / WHOP 1230 AM | News Radio
Apr 21, 2021 10:53 AM
Negotiations continue toward a possible plea deal for the man accused of sexually abusing a girl on a church bus on Easter Sunday in 2019, but a trial date has been set in case those attempts are unfruitful.
Attorney Sands Chewning represents Tyler Frances and told Judge John Atkins Wednesday morning that he and Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling are close to coming to an agreement on a deal.
Hopkinsville, KY, USA / WHOP 1230 AM | News Radio
Apr 21, 2021 11:47 AM
Attorneys for Karen Brafman, who was previously convicted of attempted murder and arson but had that verdict overturned due to flagrant prosecutorial misconduct, will be asking the judge to dismiss the case in the near future.
A jury found Brafman guilty of first-degree arson, second-degree arson and six counts of attempted murder and gave her a life sentence. She allegedly set fire to a mobile home on Princeton Road with six people inside, including four children, in May of 2018.
The Kentucky Supreme Court reversed the decision in December, saying she was denied a fair trial when Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling opposed her using a defense that she was intoxicated even though he knew she had been at the time of the crime.