Vice trial delayed

The trial of three family members accused of intimidating a court witness was postponed Monday in Fleming County Circuit Court, but prosecution and defense attorneys in the case have declined to say exactly why.
Jury selection was scheduled to begin for the trial of Franklin, Carolyn and Brian Vice Monday morning, but the case was reportedly halted before the jury was chosen.
The trial date is expected to be reset Friday.

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.”

Mr. Adams

Thomas Reed Adams (Spud Cat), 41, passed away Sunday, May 10, 2009, at 7:45 p.m., at St. Joe Hospital in Lexington with his loving family at his bedside.
Thomas was born on Aug. 8. 1967, in Maysville, to John Franklin Adams and Emma Emmons Adams.
Thomas was previously employed by Toyo Seats of Flemingsbyurg.
Thomas was a lifetime member of Lewisburg Baptist Church.
Also surviving besides his parents are two sons, Robert John Thomas Adams, 15, and Shawn Nicholas Reed Adams, 9, of Flemingsburg; two sisters, Gayle (Dale) Miller and Nancy (Jerry) Shannon of Flemingsburg; a brother, John Robert (Megan) Adams of Louisville; three nieces, Lindsay Miller, Abby Miller and Jerrica Shannon; two nephews, Brian Shannon and Taylor Miller; and a great-niece, Aubury Shannon.
Thomas was preceded in death by his grandparents, Fredrick Reed Adams Jr. and Dorothy Weddle Adams and Tommie Arnold Emmons and Mignon Harmon Emmons.
Services are 2 p.m., Wednesday at Boone-Nickell Funeral Home with Brother Carl Hall officiating.
Burial will follow in Wedonia Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Larry Smith, Dale Miller, Brian Shannon, Jerry Shannon, Leonard Rucker, Mike Maher, Roy Doyle, Leroy Taylor and Phillip Wagoner.
Visitation is after 11 a.m., Wednesday, at the funeral home

Mrs. Stacy

Bertha E. Stacy, 90, of Maysville passed away at Maysville Nursing and Rehab Facility on Saturday, May 2, 2009.

The daughter of the late Anna Brammer Muse and Robert Muse, of Muses Mills, she was preceded in death by her husband Ira E. Stacy and 3 brothers, Oney Muse and Everett Muse, both of Muses Mills, and Audrey Muse, Porterville, Cal., and 3 sisters, Ina Porter, Muses Mills, Cora Bishop, Cincinnati, Ohio and Virgie Ferguson, Lexington, Ky.

She is survived by her daughter, Bonnie (Stacy) McMillian, Auburndale,Fla., and grandchildren, Bonita Botkin, Maysville;  Sheri Helterbrand (Mark) Maysville; James Roger Botkin, Jr.(Kim),Titusville, Fla.; Robert McMillian (Alicia), Plant City, Fla.; Samuel McMillian (Brandi) Lakeland, Fla., and 2 great-grand children, Stacy McMillian and Gabriel Botkin, both of Plant City, Fla.

She also left behind her special friend, and loving pet, Cassie.

A Memorial service will be held at Muses Mills Christian Church (Muses Mills, Ky.) on Thursday, May 14^th, from 5 – 7pm.

Donations to Hospice of Hope suggested in lieu of flowers.

Mr. Saunders

John W. Saunders, age 73, of the Mount Carmel community passed away Tuesday at Pioneer Trace Nursing Home where he was a patient.
Mr. Saunders was born in Fleming County, July 31, 1935. His parents were the late Clay and Letha Walton Saunders,
He was a farmer and landowner in the Mount Carmel community.
Survivors include a sister, Eleanor McDonald of Shelby County; his ex-wife, Trella Saunders of Maysville; and a step-daughter, Pam Ellsworth of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Services are 1 p.m., Monday, at the Boone-Nickell Funeral Home with Rev. Clay Earl Sanders officiating.
Burial will follow in the Mount Carmel Cemetery.
Visitation is after 11 a.m., Monday at the funeral home.

Mrs. Burden

Louvenia S. Burden, 103, of Williams Street, Maysville passed away Thursday, May 7, 2009, at Meadowview Regional Medical Center. She was the widow of James Burden.
Mrs. Burden was born in Fleming County on April 9, 1906, to the late Carl and Minnie Hitch Griffith.
She was a homemaker and a member of the Maysville Church of Christ.
Survivors include four nieces, Juanita Gray of Maysville, Lois (Robert) Holland of Georgetown, Ohio, Bernice (Donald) Keiffer of Georgetown, Ohio and Linda (Ronald) Dexter of Sardina, Ohio; several great nieces, nephews and other family and friends.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Roy Griffith; a sister, Grace Pence; and a nephew, Ray Emmons.
Services are 1 p.m., Saturday, May 9, 2009, at the Brell and Son Funeral Home.
Burial will follow in the Linwood Cemetery, Russellville, Ohio.

Mrs. Gallagher

Mary Frances Gallagher, age 72, of the Bald Hill community, passed away Tuesday at Fleming County Hospital
Mrs. Gallagher was retired from Licking Valley Community Action Program where she was personnel director.
She was born in Fleming County, April 19, 1937. Her parents were the late George N. and Jewell McKee Turner Jr.
Survivors include her husband, Anthony "Pete" Gallagher; two daughters, ReGene (Todd) Gorman of Bald Hill, and Patricia Lee (John) Phipps of Orlando, Fla.; a son, James William (Terri) Bradley of Wallingford; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; three sisters, Judy Pipal and Carol Sapp, both of Maysville, and Sandy McEzeen of Jupiter, Fla.; and a brother, Wayne Turner of Pennsylvania.
She was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Jonathan and Jessica Reed; and a brother, Ronnie Turner.
Services are 1 p.m., Saturday at the Boone-Nickell Funeral Home with pastor Jimmy Crouch officiating.
Burial will follow in Green Acres Cemetery,
Visitation is after 6 p.m., Friday at the funeral home.