Published: September 09, 2008 08:13 am      

Robbery becomes attempted murder

Jellico man indicted for August robbery of gas station near state line

By Sean Bailey / Staff Writer

A Jellico man was indicted Monday for attempted murder in connection to the August robbery of a southern Whitley County gas station.

Douglas Boyd Malone, 36, has been charged with criminal attempt to commit murder and first-degree robbery after allegedly firing a handgun during the Aug. 10 robbery of the Fast Trax gas station near the state line.

No one was hurt during the robbery.

Josh Emerson Surgener, 23, and Todd Evan Bryant, 25, both of Williamsburg, were charged with first-degree criminal complicity to robbery for their alleged involvement in the crime.

April Kuehn, 27, was also indicted for criminal facilitation to first-degree robbery for aiding the three men.

The day of the robbery, Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputies Ronnie Bowling and Alan Onskt spotted the vehicle that witnesses say had been used in the getaway.

The driver of the vehicle voluntarily allowed police to search the car.

According to Deputy Onskt, the initial search did not produce any evidence, but deputy Bowling conducted a closer search by removing the car’s center console — and revealing the stolen money.

Later, police removed a plastic panel in the car and found the handgun they believe was used in the robbery.

Surgener, Bryant and Malone are all currently housed in the Whitley County Detention Center. Kuehn, who was not arrested after the robbery, has until Thursday to make the $3,500 bond.

The Whitley County grand jury also indicted two brothers in connection to a break-in at a Corbin pharmacy.

On April 19, Corbin police responded to an alarm at Art’s Pharmacy on South Main Street. Sgt. David Maiden and officer Matt Conley observed Jason Johnson inside the “busted in” pharmacy. According to police, Jason Johnson allegedly attempted to escape but was quickly arrested.

While the officers were processing the scene, a gold Ford Taurus driven by James Johnson drove past. According to witnesses at the scene, the gold Taurus was involved with the break-in, so police pulled it over and arrested James Johnson.

Jason Johnson was indicted on charges of third-degree burglary and possession of burglar’s tools. His brother James Johnson was indicted on charges of criminal complicity to third-degree burglary and possession of burglar’s tools.

On Monday, the Whitley County grand jury also returned the following indictments:

• Kenneth W. Rose, receiving stolen property over $300

• Brandon Warren and Jeremiah Goforth, fourth-degree assault

The case of Toni R. Day was dismissed by the grand jury.