Published: June 22, 2009 10:04 am      

Murder charge follows crash

By Carl Keith Greene / Staff Writer

Drunk driving was the linking factor in two separate cases from this month’s Laurel County grand jury, which charged Miranda Knowles with murder and Johnny McKinney with bribery of a public servant.

Knowles was said to be an intoxicated driver in an April three-car crash.

She was also charged with four counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, driving while intoxicated and having no automobile insurance.

At about 3 p.m. on April 9, Knowles, 23, of London, was reportedly driving east on KY 192, near the London Country Club. With her in the Mitsubishi were said to be Courtney Carter and Kylen McQueen.

Sheriff’s department reports say Knowles’ vehicle crossed into the westbound lane and collided with a vehicle driven by Donald Burgin of London. Reportedly in the vehicle with Burgin was Marietta Bryant.

A third vehicle, driven by Bobby Johnson, was also involved in the collision, the report says.

Carter, 19, after being extricated from Knowles’ vehicle following the wreck, was flown to University of Kentucky Medical Center, where she later died as a result of her injuries.

Counts three, four, five and six charge Knowles with wanton endangerment of Burgin, Bryant, Johnson and McQueen.

In a separate case, McKinney, the grand jury alleges, attempted to bribe London police Lt. Stewart Walker.

McKinney allegedly offered Walker $500 to drop charges against him following a traffic stop and to take him home.

McKinney, 62, of London, made the bribery attempt on May 21 and was also charged in the indictment with second offense driving under the influence, failing to give a turn signal and failing to yield half the road to oncoming traffic.

Only six were charged this month for manufacturing methamphetamine.

Three, Gregory Bateman, 23, and Brittany Morris, 28, both of Keavy, and Freddie Farmer, Jr., 28, of Lily, were indicted together after they were found on May 27th allegedly operating an outdoor methamphetamine lab on an abandoned and overgrown road near Rita Lane in Lily.

Also indicted for making meth were Scott Patterson, 23, and Adam Sprinkles, 31, of Lily, who were charged for pursuing that activity on May 21.

Byron Baker, 27, of London, was indicted for allegedly making meth on June 4.

Also indicted were:

• Wanda Wagers, 29, and Jeffrey Grubb, 30, London, five counts of trafficking in controlled substances

• Donald Arnold, London, first-degree possession of controlled substance and persistent felony offender

• Richard Elkins, 34, London, first-degree possession of controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence, no driver’s license, improper windshield

• David Wilhelm, 49, London, criminal possession of a forged instrument

• Angel Laster, 37, London, criminal possession of a forged instrument, giving an officer a false name

• Christopher Joseph, 21, East Bernstadt, two counts of first offense criminal possession of a forged prescription

• Mark White, 26, East Bernstadt, 12 counts of second-degree possession of forged instruments totaling $760, second-degree assault, giving an officer a false name or address, resisting arrest, second-degree fleeing or evading the police, being a persistent felony offender

• Christopher Kidd, 24, Corbin, first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy

• Peter Newby, second-degree rape and second-degree abuse of a person less than 14 years old

• Wesley Scott Bruner, 34, theft by unlawful taking of over $300 and being a persistent felony offender

• Nicholas Hubbard, theft by unlawful taking of over $300

• Roy Perkins, Williamsburg, 62, theft by deception of over $300

• Christine Goss, 40, East Bernstadt, three counts of theft of identity, being a persistent felony offender

• Marty Crawford, 45, London, third-degree assault, resisting arrest, public intoxication, two counts of fourth-degree assault, third-degree terroristic threatening

• Jonathan Henry Sasser, 39, flagrant non-support

• Barney Boggs, 35, Corbin, flagrant non-support