Daily Independent (Ashland, KY)

Local News

November 5, 2009

Nunn indicted on wanton endangerment charges in Hart County

FRANKFORT — A Hart County grand jury has indicted former legislator and gubernatorial candidate Steve Nunn on six charges of wanton endangerment stemming from events at a country cemetery where he was arrested hours after the shooting death of his former fiancé.

Nunn, 57, is lodged in the Fayette County jail where he’s been charged with the death of Amanda Ross, 29, his one-time fiancée who had accused Nunn of domestic abuse. He has not yet been indicted on the murder charges.

A Fayette District judge placed Nunn under an emergency protective order/domestic violence order last spring after Ross alleged he hit her in the face. On Sept. 11, Ross was found shot in the parking lot of her Lexington townhouse around 6:30 a.m. and was pronounced dead a short time later.

Authorities began searching for Nunn, who was found a few hours later in the Cosby Cemetery in rural Hart County where his parents, former Gov. Louie B. Nunn and Beula Nunn, are buried. His wrists were cut and he allegedly discharged a gun as police officers approached. He was taken to the Bowling Green Medical Center and the following Monday transferred to the Hart County jail on the wanton endangerment charges. He was later charged with Ross’ death and taken to Lexington.

Hart County Commonwealth Attorney Terry Geoghegan said the indictment results were “from the events that occurred at Cosby Cemetery” and Nunn is scheduled for arraignment in Hart County Circuit Court on Nov. 17 at 9 a.m.

Hart County does not have the technological capability for video arraignments, Geoghegan said, “so at this point (Nunn) is scheduled to appear in Hart County for arraignment.”

Nunn has not yet been indicted in Fayette County. The grand jury has 60 days to act once it receives charges, according to Fayette Commonwealth Attorney Ray Larson. Nunn waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Sept. 25, at which time the case was sent to the grand jury.

Nunn’s attorney, Warren Scoville of London, did not return messages left with his law firm’s receptionist and on his voice mail Thursday afternoon. The receptionist said Scoville was out of the office for a mediation hearing.

Scoville entered the case on Oct. 21 when he entered a notice of appearance in Fayette County, replacing Nunn’s previous attorney, Astrida Lemkins. Lemkins, however, apparently remains the attorney of record in Hart County.

When contacted Thursday about the Hart County indictment, Lemkins declined to comment except to say, as far as she knows, she remains attorney of record in Hart County. She previously said Scoville removed her from the Fayette County case after she sought to bring him on board as co-counsel and has said she’s considering litigation against Scoville.

Geoghegan said he isn’t certain who will represent Nunn in Hart County.

“We understand that Mr. Scoville may be planning to enter his notice of entry as attorney of record,” Geoghegan said.

He said Nunn must, at some point, answer the indictment, regardless of any subsequent charges against him in Fayette County. Nunn could be indicted in Fayette County as soon as next Monday or Tuesday when the Fayette County grand jury next meets.

“If he is charged in other jurisdictions,” Geoghegan said, “I would expect that just like in any other case, there would be some coordination between jurisdictions. The commonwealth attorneys would cooperate on which case should go forward first.”

RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.

Text Only
Local News
  • Putnam restoration gets additional $50K

    The Putnam Stadium Restoration Foundation got a $50,000 boost from The Woodlands Foundation.

    February 10, 2012

  • Kentucky schools get waiver on No Child Left Behind

    Kentucky and nine other states received waivers Thursday from the federal No Child Left Behind Act, in exchange for putting their own improved accountability systems in place.

    February 10, 2012

  • sweet2.jpg Sweet harmony

    Many women all over the world travel miles every week, just to sing with a barbershop chorus. 

    February 10, 2012 1 Photo

  • Bankruptcy filings: 2/10/12

    Bankruptcy filings in the Eastern District of U.S. Bankruptcy Court include the following:

    February 9, 2012

  • Russell Independent School District

    A new gym floor at Russell High School will cost somewhere between $71,000 and $107,000, school board members learned Thursday.

    February 9, 2012

  • Workers reject contract offer

    Hourly workers at Marathon Petroleum’s Catlettsburg refinery on Wednesday rejected a contract offer from the company.

    February 9, 2012

  • UW campaign tops $780,000

    While the economy of this region continues to struggle, the people of northeastern Kentucky again proved this is a caring and giving area by easily surpassing the ambitious $750,000 for the 2011 campaign of the United Way of Northeast Kentucky.

    February 9, 2012

  • LRC plans to appeal judge’s ruling

    The leadership of the General Assembly announced Thursday it plans to appeal Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd’s ruling that the legislature’s plan to re-draw state legislative boundaries is unconstitutional.

    February 9, 2012

  • School personnel pleased to be in ‘unprecedented’ territory with snow days

    Mid-February usually is the time when school administrators start worrying about how many days they will have to tack on to the end of the year to make up for the ones missed because of snow.

    February 9, 2012

  • Opposition to planned sewer extension

    The Boyd County Fiscal Court could be removing $60,000 in grant money after complaints about the sewer project it would have funded.

    February 9, 2012

Featured Ads
Seasonal Content
AP Video
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate' Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal $25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
SEC Zone