State-Journal.com

Men indicted for robbing home, impersonating police

By John Zambenini
May 2, 2008

Two men have been indicted on first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and impersonating a police officer.

Earl Way Wright, 57, and Timothy Hall obtained a white Mercury Grand Marquis from Paul Miller Ford in Lexington April 2, under the pretext of test-driving the vehicle, Commonwealth's Attorney Larry Cleveland said.

Cleveland said one of the armed men entered the Camp Pleasant Road home of John Wilson, 73, identifying himself as a police officer executing a search warrant. A short time later, the other man entered the home and the two stole $12,000 in cash and several firearms, Cleveland said.

"They had cause to believe there would be a significant amount of cash in the home," Cleveland said.

Wright is in the Franklin County Regional Jail. Hall remains at large.
Anyone with information regarding Hall's whereabouts should call State Police Detective Mike Carnahan at 227-2221.

More theft charges for ex-treasurer of club
A Franklin County grand jury also indicted Tonya Blackburn, the former treasurer of the Frankfort Younger Woman's Club, on new charges of theft by unlawful taking and fraudulent use of a credit card.

Blackburn previously pleaded guilty to 23 counts of theft by unlawful taking more than $300, eight counts of theft by unlawful taking less than $300 and 12 counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument.

"We did some further investigation and found some additional thefts," Cleveland said.

Blackburn was sentenced in March of 2007 to five years in prison, but prosecutors and her defense attorney agreed to a pre-trial diversion that will keep her out of jail so long as she stays out of trouble and meets other conditions in the diversion.

Blackburn has now been charged with 29 counts of theft by unlawful taking over $300, eight counts of theft by unlawful taking under $300, two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card and 30 counts of persistent felony offender in total, Cleveland said.

Other indictments include:
>Jack M. Johnson, 45, 395 Schenkel Lane, three counts of theft by deception valued at $300 or more for writing cold checks.

>John R. Armstrong, 32, 6527 Mount Zion Road, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

>William B. Cummins, 23, 319 Hardy St., second-degree assault and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

>Jeremy S. Leanhart, 19, 438 Harrodsburg Road, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

>Sandra Villegas, 33, no address given, first-degree possession of a controlled substance.