Pollard pleads guilty

By Danetta Barker

A guilty plea entered in Circuit Court Tuesday ended the 17-month long legal battle of Roy I. Pollard Jr., who was charged with murder.

Pollard pleaded guilty to two counts of murder in the shooting deaths of Willa Thompson and Jason Thompson, unlawful imprisonment, first-degree assault, burglary, first-degree wanton endangerment, stalking, third-degree burglary, tampering with evidence and violation of EPO. He will spend the rest of his life in prison without the chance of parole.

The crimes were committed in January of 2008 Pollard went on a shooting spree that ended with the deaths of Willa Thompson and Jason Thompson. Pollard had been living with Bonnie Sue Butler, who left him for Jason Thompson. The split was volatile according to testimony given in court over the past year and a half.

After Pollard shot Willa and Jason, he burst into the house, took Butler and headed for the woods surrounding the home on Sugar Tree Road. Law enforcement officials from Flemingsburg City Police, Fleming County Sheriff’s Office, Kentucky State Police and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office searched through the night for Pollard and Butler.

Early on the morning of Jan. 2, 2008 Butler, who was sent by Pollard to meet a car, walked to a house and called police. Pollard was apprehended shortly after.

Trial dates were changed due the defense asking for a change of venue in the case, which was denied by Judge Stockton Wood. A trial was set for June 8 when Pollard accepted the plea agreement form Commonwealth’s attorney Kathryn Hendrickson.

After he entered guilt pleas to all charges, Wood asked Pollard what led to the shootings that night.

“We (he and Butler) got into an argument in the driveway and that led to what happened,” Pollard said.

Pollard, who was represent by Tom Griffiths of the Department of Public Advocacy, asked for sentence to be passed after the plea was entered instead of waiting for a sentencing hearing. Wood agreed and sentenced the 36 year old man to two life sentences without the chance of parole sentences, 15 years for first-degree assault of Richard Anderson; 15 years for burglary; five years on all other counts, with 12 months for violating an EPO.

The Thompson family was at the trial to see justice carried out and find some solace in the end of the legal battle.

Mary and Gary Thompson, parents of Jason, said it was finally over. Mary spoke before sentence was passed and gave her condolences to Pollard, who lost a 3 year old daughter in a car wreck after the incident.

“I’m sorry he lost his child,” she said. “I will never see daylight again. Jason would never hurt anyone,” she said through tears.

Anthony Thompson, son of Willa, said he and his father George were shocked to receive a phone call late Monday evening telling them of the plea agreement and the hearing. The past 17 months has been hard on the family, especially Travis, the youngest son of Willa and George.

“I have one child with Downs Syndrome and he cries and screams for his mother,” George said. “He saw what happened to his mother and he can’t forget it.”

Anthony said it was good to finally have closure on the case.

“It will let the healing process begin, but nothing will bring Mom back.”

Anthony said Jason had spent many summers with Willa and George and Willa thought of him as a son.

“She ran to help him,” Anthony said. “She thought of him as one of her kids. If she had to go in such a violent way like that at least she had her arms around someone she loved.”