The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 5

(2 4 HE COURIER-JOURNAL, WED WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1994 REGIONAL ROUNDUP COMPILED FROM AP AND STAFF DISPATCHES Radcliff man convicted of murder in shooting of former girlfriend Robbers get more than wallet LEXINGTON, Ky. Would-be robbers learned the hard way yesterday that Logan H. Groves isn't an easy target. Groves, who was departing for work shortly after 6 a.m., found his driveway blocked by a car occupied by three men. Two of them, one of whom had a pistol, approached Groves and took his wallet, police said.

As they drove away, Groves took a handgun from his trunk and began pursuing the men. Their two cars swerved back and forth, with gunfire erupting, before they collided at Winburn Drive and Russell Cave Road. Police said a shot fired by Groves hit one of the suspects in the left forearm. With the wounded man leaving a trail of blood, Groves then briefly continued the pursuit on foot. Police arrested Chico Deron Toller, 18, when he arrived at the University of Kentucky Hospital seeking treatment for a gunshot.

Also arrested was a 16-year-old boy. Both were charged with first-degree robbery. Toller was listed in good condition last night. Groves got his wallet back; the robbers left it in their car. Police said they do not plan to charge Groves with anything.

Ethics panel looking at Rogers FRANKFORT, Ky. The Legislative Hi confrontational, even grabbing Amey's gun from his car, Simon-said. Amey shot O'Neal after he got the gun away from her, Simon "He had reason to fear for his life," Simon said. Afterward, Simon said, didn't tell authorities because he was terrified of what had happened-Police found O'Neal's body about three weeks after the Feb. 5 shooting when one of Amey's friends led them to it.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Le-sousky said the shooting was not in self-defense and that Amey knew' well the gun, a semiautomatic, couldn't be fired until he loaded a round into the chamber. Lesousky reminded the jury that' Amey told the FBI after the shooting that he took the gun away from O'Neal, loaded a round into the chamber, and then shot her in the back of the head. "When he shot; that gun, he did it deliberately," Lesousky said. -It The jury deliberated about three, hours before returning the guilty verdict.

Amey is to be sentenced Sept. 26. By DEBORAH YETTER Staff Writer A federal jury yesterday convicted a Radcliff man of second-degree murder for fatally shooting Jennifer O'Neal, 21, in February at an isolated area of Fort Knox. Jersharo Amey, 22, was convicted after a five-day trial in U.S. District Court in Louisville of murdering his former girlfriend during an argument.

The maximum penalty is life in prison, but his sentence under federal guidelines probably will be 14 or 15 years with no parole, federal prosecutors said yesterday. Amey admitted to the shooting after police found O'Neal's body hidden under a tree. But his lawyer, Larry Simon, argued yesterday in his closing statement that the shooting was in self-defense and followed a confrontation in which O'Neal claimed she was pregnant and demanded Amey take responsibility as the father. An autopsy later showed O'Neal was not pregnant. O'Neal had been aggressive and GANNETT NEWS SERVICE PHOTO Ron Lewis sent this newsletter to residents of the 2nd District Frankly speaking Democrats question mailing by Lewis in light of platform Ethics Commission has started investigating whether Senate Minority Leader John Rogers violated the ethics code by soliciting money for legal expenses on stationery that carried his title.

Rogers, a Republican from Somerset, is fighting federal charges of extortion, mail fraud and lying to the FBI. He is scheduled for trial in October. After he was indicted, Rogers gave up the duties, but not the title, of minority leader. The charges relate to banking legislation that passed in 1984 and to a conspiracy that allegedly continued into more recent years. 3 youths charged after death of teen may be tried as adults Rogers By JAMES MALONE Staff Writer MADISONVILLE, Ky.

Three juveniles charged after the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy earlier this month may be tried as adults, Hopkins County Attorney Logan Calvert said. Deciding to certify the juveniles as adults will hinge on their records, Calvert said. Two of the youths have been charged with possessing a defaced pistol a gun whose serial numbers had been filed off. That charge is a misdemeanor. The third faces several charges, including reckless homicide.

The dead youth, Kraig Hopson, and his 14 year-old cousin were playing with a pistol in Hopson's bedroom June 17 when the gun went off. Earlier in the day, the boys had been target shooting, using ammunition apparently purchased for them by an adult. In the bedroom, the younger boy, Hopson's cousin, removed the clip from the gun, aimed it at Hopsori and pulled the trigger, unaware that a live round remained in the chamber, Coroner John Walters said. Hopson died the following day. Police also found several packets of a substance they suspected was cocaine, and the 14-year-old admitted it was his, said Earlington Police Chief Doug Stallins.

The 14-year-old has been charged with reckless homicide, possession of a defaced firearm and cocaine trafficking. 1 Hopson was not involved with drugs, authorities said. The 14-year-old had bought the gun about two weeks before the shooting, police said. Two other teen-agers, 16 and 17; have been charged with p6ssessing the defaced pistol before one of them sold it to the 14 year-old. Authorities are still searching for Jason Franklin, 21, of Providence, who was charged with complicity to reckless homicide for illegally buying a box of ammunition for the 14-year-old boy at a Wal-Mart store.

By AL CROSS Political Writer Folks in Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District have found something unusual in their mailboxes in the last few days unusual for them, at least. It's a newsletter from Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis of Cecilia. A taxpayer-paid mailing from a member of Congress to constituents is common around the nation, but not in the 2nd District.

The district was represented for more than 40 years by Democrat William Natcher, who spent less on his office than any other member and rarely used the "franking" privilege that lets members of Congress send free mail. Natcher died March 29. Lewis won the May 24 special election to fill his unexpired term, which runs through this year, and is running in the November election for a full two-year term. There, Democrats say, is the rub because newsletters can be good political promotion, and Lewis ran on a platform of cutting government waste. As Lewis puts it in a "Dear Friends" letter on the front page of the mailing, in bold type: "The federal government has grown way too big and spends far too much.

Getting federal spending under control has to be our number-one priority." The next page deals mainly with the national debt, the budget deficit and proposals to cut spending. "It sounds like a case of 'Watch what I say, not what I said Mike Casey, spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, who called The Courier-Journal about the newsletter. Lewis' Democratic opponent in the fall election, Owensboro Mayor David Adkisson, was more reserved when asked to comment. As a congressman, Adkisson said, "I would not have chosen to mail such an elaborate newsletter." Lewis said the postal cost was $36,918, or about 11 cents per piece, which he said is the average cost for all such mailings. He said he did not know the cost of designing and printing the material.

"I know it sounds like a lot of money," he said, "but it is a service, and the people who are going to take advantage of it are going to get their money's worth out of it." Lewis said hundreds of people have already called his offices seeking flags, Washington tours and other services touted by the mailing, which prominently mentions a "toll-free hotline." "We wanted to get everything we do in that newsletter," Lewis said. "I don't think we will have a newsletter that extensive in the future. It's kind of a coming-out newsletter." The two-color mailing is a single sheet folded into four 8-by-14-inch pages. One page is a questionnaire, which Adkisson said is generally legitimate but includes a few slanted questions, such as one saying that President Clinton wants to cut defense spending "below the level prior to Pearl Harbor." Lewis said the phrase was used to make a point, but was not designed to elicit responses in opposition to the Clinton plan. He said he sees no contradiction in the newsletter and his anti-spend-ing platform and suggested that he would vote to ban such franking.

"If there was an opportunity to cut it, do away with it, whatever, across the board, I wouldn't have any problem with that," he said, "but I think that it does provide a service to let the people of the 2nd District know what's being offered." Rogers said recently that he made a mistake when he sent out a few letters on what he said was old campaign stationery to solicit money. He said he did not use state workers to send the letters. Lawyer is sentenced for contempt RUSSEUATLLE, Ky. A judge sentenced a Logan County lawyer yesterday to 30 days in jail and fined him $499 for making derogatory remarks toward another judge. Special Judge William R.

Harris found Louis Waller in contempt of court for calling Logan Circuit Judge William Fuqua a liar and incompetent in court documents. Waller also used an anatomical vulgarity to refer to Fuqua. No date has been set for Waller to begin his sentence. Neither he nor Judge Fuqua could be reached for comment. Waller filed documents on Monday in an attempt to justify his use of the words to describe the judge.

One document said the use of vulgarities was "to draw the attention of the public to corruption in the judicial office." Waller made the references in papers filed June 21 in a case in which Fuqua had issued a temporary injunction against a client of Waller's. Judge refuses to drop rape case MAYFIELD, Ky. A judge has rejected a request to dismiss a 12-count rape indictment against a man whose lawyer says he cannot read, write, speak or communicate through commonly used sign language. Graves Circuit Judge John Daughaday did approve a motion Monday to have a court-appointed psychologist evaluate the defendant, Jerry Suiter of Sedalia. The ruling has delayed his trial, which had been scheduled for July 19.

Suiter's lawyer, Jim Linblad of Paducah, had argued that his client's inability to communicate left him unable to understand the charges against him. But Commonwealth's Attorney Richard Weisenberger said he has a witness who will testify she can communicate with Suiter by using a hybrid sign language. Police officer's car is firebombed OWENSBORO, Ky. Police and fire officials are investigating the firebombing of a city police officer's private car. David Thompson's convertible was firebombed shortly after 2 a.m.

Sunday. Officials found a glass bottle and part of a wick that was believed to have been used in the homemade firebomb. Late Saturday night, Thompson and other officers had broken up fights involving teen-agers, and arrested four girls. Officers said they and their cars were struck by rocks and bottles. Lt.

Jim Postlewaite said it was not known if the earlier incidents were relate to the firebombing. Man gets 28 years for killing woman LONDON, Ky. A judge has sentenced a Laurel County man to 28 years in prison for killing his girlfriend. Carelene Eldridge, 47, told hospital workers she had been beaten, doused with kerosene and set on fire. She died on April 24, 1993.

Dennis Ray Harrison, 51, pleaded guilty to murder last week. University Psychiatric Services, P.S.C. 550 South Jackson Street is currently seeking persons age 18 to 65 to participate in a study of a new medication for the treatment of manic episodes. The person must have had a manic episode one week to three months before enrollment. They are seeking volunteers who had the following symptoms: Agitation Inflated Self-esteem Decreased Attention Decrease Sleep More Talkative Racing Thoughts Qualified volunteers will receive free treatment, physical exams, EKG's and free medication for a maximum of 65 weeks.

For More Information, Call Mary Shelton at 852-1947 Turner pleads guilty, but won't resign from House Brooks By GIL LAWSON Staff Writer FRANKFORT, Ky. Rep. Richard Turner pleaded guilty to a campaign-finance violation yesterday, becoming the first lawmaker convicted in the probe of state government corruption not to resign his seat. Turner, R-Tompkinsville, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor filing a false report with the state Registry The special prosecutor, Joseph Conley said Turner's offense occurred under an old law that called for a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine and a year in jail. It did not require removal from office.

The campaign laws have been changed since 1990. The same offense is now a felony and would require removal from office. "We're working with an old statute; there's not a lot of teeth in the statute," Conley said. Jail terms have not been Insurance agent replaces man too young to run for Senate Smmiois JEFFERSON MALL OXMOOR CENTER MM sought for others who violated campaign-finance laws, all of whom were contributors. The House Republican whip, Rep.

Danny Ford of Mount Vernon, said Turner "is to be commended that he spoke up and said 'I have done wrong' when he could have de or tiecuon rinance unu paid a $1,000 fine. The charge stemmed from Turner's acceptance of a $3,000 payment from a Humana Inc. lobbyist in 1990. Turner's case was investigated by the FBI but was turned over to a special state prosecutor responsible for handling campaign-finance violations. i Si Turner rector of the state Democratic Party.

Arnett said the state party worker who handled the Saturday nomination meeting thought Gross told her that he was 29, then asked him if he met all the qualifications. When he said he did, the worker thought that meant he would turn 30 in time to be sworn into office, Arnett said. Jones, 58, is a State Farm insurance agent and a third cousin of state Treasurer Frances Jones Mills. He has run for public office only once, losing a Democratic Senate primary in the 1960s when Knox County was in another district. Jones said he hopes to overcome the partisan disadvantage by arguing that a Democrat can get more accomplished for the area in the Democratic-controlled legislature.

Robinson, a 55-year-old real estate broker and auctioneer, has been part of the legislature for more than 20 years as a House member in 1972-84 and 1987-88, and as an un- Eaid cloakroom keeper after each of is stints as a representative. Huff, whose resignation takes effect today, is a retired Pentecostal minister who will turn 65 on Oct. 6. He is among the nominees for two state Parole Board seats that Democratic Gov. Brereton Jones plans to fill this week.

By AL CROSS Political Writer FRANKFORT, Ky. Democrats found a replacement candidate yesterday for a special state Senate election in southeastern Kentucky after learning that their first nominee was too young to serve. Harold Jones of Gray in Knox County was nominated by state party officials, who were chagrined to learn that David Gross of Manchester was only 25. Senators must be at least 30. Former state Rep.

Albert Robinson is the Republican nominee in the July 26 special election to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Republican Gene Huff. Both are from London, the largest town in the 21st Senate District, which comprises Laurel, Knox and Clay counties and part of Leslie County. The winner will serve the years remaining in Huffs term. Robinson is favored because the district's voter registration is 3-to-l Republican, the heaviest GOP ratio of any Senate district. But Democrats aren't conceding the seat.

'I'm not going to make any predictions, but I'll guarantee you we'll work hard and give it our best shot," said Jim Arnett, executive di nied it." Turner acknowledged last year that he accepted the $3,000 from lobbyist Ronnie Adams after a bill backed by Humana passed the General Assembly in 1990. Turner did not vote for the bill but twice took positions that helped it. Turner admitted that the money was disguised in his campaign-finance report as 30 or more payments of $100 or less at Adams' request so he would not be listed as a contributor. Humana, which at the time owned hospitals, supported a bill to allow the company to expand its operations in Jefferson County without getting state approval. Humana officials have said they are cooperating with investigators.

Turner pieaaea guuty before Franklin District Judge Guy Hart in a brief court appearance, paid his fine and $67.50 in court costs and left the courthouse without talking to reporters. David Goin, Turner's lawyer, said there was no reason for Turner to resign. Another charge involving Turner's acceptance of the money will be dismissed in Simpson County under a plea agreement. Turner has served nine terms in the House and is seeking re-election this fall. He is unopposed in the 22nd District, which comprises Monroe and Allen counties and part of Simpson County.

The Legislative Ethics Commission decided yesterday to begin an investigation of Turner's case. DRASTIC REDUCTIONS ON ALL WOMEN'S FASHIONSl I All women's dresses, shorts, skirts, denims, jackets, tops, vests accessories, i SEE THE ORIGINAL PRICES! Every item in stock has the original price ticket on It Cashiers will deduct an additional 50 at the registers. Everything goes, no exceptions. ALL SALES ARE FINAL CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED We win accept cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express Discover. Sorry, no.