State-Journal.com - Alleged armed robber enters not guilty plea

Jamar Rancher

A Frankfort man charged with the armed robbery of a Ridgeview Drive residence has pleaded not guilty.

Jamar Rancher, 18, of 1030 Champion Drive, is one of three men who allegedly robbed Dylan Morse, of Ridgeview Drive, Dec. 29.

Morse told police two men armed with handguns and wearing masks forced their way into his residence and demanded money, Maj. Fred Deaton said.

Morse gave them $50 and was punched in the face about three times, a police report says.

According to Deaton, witnesses followed the men until they jumped into a gold 2002 Chevrolet Malibu with a Georgia license plate.

The witnesses gave police a detailed description of the vehicle and the three suspects.

Police found the Malibu at Speedway on Versailles Road and arrested Gerren Spain, 18, of Ellenwood, Ga., whose relative owned the car, at the gas station.

Spain told police Rancher and Cory Hay, 22, of 803 Fields Ave., were at Hay’s home on Fields Avenue, and officers took them to the Public Safety Facility for questioning and later arrested them.

Franklin Circuit Judge Roger Crittenden reduced Rancher’s bond to $1,000 Friday, and he will be fitted with an ankle monitor after he deals with a wanton endangerment charge in Jefferson County.

Spain and Hay have posted bond at Franklin County Regional Jail.

Also in court Friday, a Henry County man accused of driving a man to the scene of an East Frankfort convenience store robbery pleaded not guilty to complicity to commit robbery.

Police say Jeremy Leanhart, 20, of Smithfield, drove Brett Wadsworth, 20, of Eminence, to Speedy Mart on 682 E. Main St. around 5 a.m. Jan 13.

As summarized by police and Commonwealth’s Attorney Larry Cleveland after the two were indicted, Leanhart drove Wadsworth to the convenience store in a tan 1999 Cadillac.

Wadsworth entered the gas station and demanded cash from the register, money from two unidentified customers and cigarettes while armed with what appeared to be a handgun.

The customers handed over a wallet and a small amount of cash. Wadsworth left his gun on the counter while picking up the cash register and cigarettes, and police discovered he was armed with a BB gun.

Police spotted the Cadillac on Ridgeview Drive, and police chased it.

Leanhart lost control of the Cadillac while evading police and wrecked in the 700 block of Ridgeview Drive.

Wadsworth fled and left Leanhart in the vehicle, and police arrested Leanhart after finding the cash register and stolen cigarettes in the Cadillac’s back seat.

Leanhart is in Franklin County Regional Jail on a $50,000 bond.