News from February 8, 2007 issue
Local News

The Crittenden Press (4 pages) PDF
(Selected pages 1A, 8A, 4B, 7B)
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Four indicted
by grand jury
A Crittenden County Grand Jury indicted four individuals on various charges Monday. It also dismissed charges against three other people.
A grand jury consists of 12 individuals. It does not determine guilt or innocence. Instead, the grand jury decides whether there is enough evidence to continue a case in circuit court. At least nine of the 12 grand jurors must vote to indict or the charges against a defendant are dismissed.
The grand jury indicted James R. Boggess and Charles G. Bradley Jr., on a variety of charges based on evidence collected by police when their vehicle was stopped at a road check on U.S. 641 near Marion on Dec. 14.
Boggess, 43, of 13th Street in Paducah was indicted on a charge of first degree unlawful transaction with a minor and possession of drug paraphernalia, second offense. Police say that a child under age 18 was in the vehicle. The indictment says that Boggess “engaged in illegal drug activity” in the presence of the juvenile.
Police say Bradley, 39, of Main Street in Salem, was driving the car in which Boggess and the juvenile were passengers. Bradley was indicted on charges of DUI, first-degree unlawful transaction with a minor, possession of a police scanner, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to produce an insurance card, failure to notify the Kentucky Department of Transportation of change of address and possession of an open alcoholic beverage in a vehicle.
The grand jury indicted a father and son from Smithland for the alleged involvement in a shooting near Mott City and a high-speed chase that led officers from Marion into Livingston County on Dec. 30.
Ronald G. Ledbetter Sr., 44, of Tanglewood Estates in Benton, Ky., was indicted on a charge of first-degree fleeing or evading police, first-degree wanton endangerment, complicity to first-degree wanton endangerment and first-degree reckless driving. Investigators said Ledbetter was in the vehicle when his son fired shots into the home of Randy Cowsert on U.S. 641 four miles south of Marion then led police on a chase through two counties at speeds exceeding 100 mph.
The son, Ronald G. Ledbetter Jr., 24, was indicted for firing the shots into Cowsert’s home.
The grand jury dismissed charges of theft against Tracy L. Skees and Michael W. Skees. It also dismissed charges against Derrick W. Spinks.