A Frankfort man has pleaded innocent to charges of burglary and cruelty to animals for allegedly stealing a laptop from his next door neighbor and fatally shooting her Shepherd/Chow mix.
Samuel Richard Payne, 25, 246 Hickory Drive, appeared in Franklin Circuit Friday court during Friday's criminal motion docket, significantly abbreviated so courthouse personnel could attend the funeral of Squire N. Williams Jr., widely known for his prominence in legal circles.
Payne told police while was stealing the laptop he heard the dog, Chloe, barking, Commonwealth's Attorney Larry Cleveland said. Cleveland said Payne went back to his house to retrieve a handgun and returned to steal jewelry, then fatally shot Chloe.
Payne's neighbor, Sandra Ferrell, told police June 23 she returned to her East Frankfort home about noon from Kentucky State University, where she works as a tutor, to eat lunch and found Chloe dead in her kitchen in a pool of blood.
Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate left Payne's bond at $20,000 full cash. Court officials said Payne was a "moderate risk" for fleeing if released.
Payne is currently being held at the Franklin County Regional Jail. He has declined an interview with The State Journal.
Payne's official charges are first and second-degree burglary, both felonies and cruelty to animals, a Class A misdemeanor.
Cleveland said at the time of Payne's indictment of the cruelty to animals charge, "It's a crime in itself that's just a misdemeanor."
Public Defender Clay Wilkey stood in for Rodney Barnes, who will represent Payne. Barnes is the Department of Public Advocacy's directing attorney.