A Junction City man – who allegedly fired shots while chasing a car on Interstate 64 after a drug deal went sour – has pleaded not guilty in Franklin Circuit Court.
Timothy Johnson, 25, stood with his Lexington attorney, Chris Wilkie, on Friday and entered his plea while three of his family members sat in the audience in support of a bond reduction.
Wilkie argued for a reduced bond – currently $35,000 – saying the charges, while serious, are only allegations. Johnson is charged with assault and two counts of wanton endangerment.
The bond is consistent with the severity of the offenses, Commonwealth’s Attorney Larry Cleveland said in court.
Johnson and Justin Lea were in the Kroger parking lot on Lawrenceburg Road when a drug deal went wrong March 15, Cleveland said after Johnson was indicted.
“The victim starts to leave when Timmy Johnson rams his car into the victim’s car,” Cleveland said.
Johnson continued to chase Lea on westbound I-64 and fired shots at Lea’s vehicle, Cleveland said.
The incident continued for a 10-mile stretch, police reported after the incident, until Lea and a passenger, Lynnda Thams, pulled off the interstate at exit 43 near Waddy where the chase ended after Lea ran out of gas.
Lea was shot in the arm and treated at a hospital in Louisville, according to court records.
Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said he’s received letters from Johnson’s family asking for a bond reduction, but he left it at $35,000. Wilkie can move for a bond hearing at a later date, Shepherd said.
Also arraigned Friday was Raymond Eastman, 43, who was arrested after police found him to be in connection with the first methamphetamine lab discovered in Franklin County.
Eastman stood with public defender Kristin Gonzalez and pleaded not guilty to several charges, including manufacturing methamphetamine
Police arrested Eastman and Corinne Sturgeon, 32, after they received an anonymous tip describing a meth lab in detail on Old Glenns Creek Road, Cleveland said after both were indicted April 11.
Frankfort and Kentucky State police searched the property and found a lab in a camper. They also found ingredients to manufacture and traffic meth, according to police.
Eastman, of 20 Old Glenns Creek Road, and Sturgeon, of 1034 Bird Road, are charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine precursors, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Cleveland said he is “adamantly opposed” to a reduction in bond for Eastman.
Sturgeon has not been arraigned in Franklin Circuit Court. Both are held at Franklin County Regional Jail on $45,300 bonds.
Comments