The two men who impersonated police in order to rob a Frankfort man pleaded guilty Monday to reduced charges, and afterwards their families and the victim's relatives squared off outside the courthouse.
Franklin County sheriff's deputies separated relatives of Timothy Hall, 39, Earl Way Wright, 57, and victim John Wilson's family after the two took a plea agreement offered by the commonwealth in Franklin Circuit Court.
The deal lessens their charges from first-degree burglary and first-degree robbery to second-degree offenses for the April 2 robbery. Hall and Wright could face 20 years in prison without the possibility of probation per prosecutors' recommendations.
Tonya Wilson, daughter-in-law of John Wilson, 75, of Camp Pleasant Road, told The State Journal Monday before she engaged in the shouting match outside the courthouse, that Hall and Wright's relatives have been contacting her in a threatening way.
"We just want them to leave us alone," Wilson said. "I'm ready for it to be over."
Two of Tonya Wilson's children were with her father-in-law at the Camp Pleasant residence when Wright and Hall came there posing as detectives, she said.
Commonwealth's Attorney Larry Cleveland said at the time of their indictment in May that Hall and Wright got a Mercury Grand Marquis, similar in appearance to a police car, from Paul Miller Ford in Lexington under the pretext of test driving it.
Cleveland said Hall and Wright were armed and drove to John Wilson's door with papers they led him to believe were search warrants.
The two then stole $12,000 in cash as well as firearms from Wilson's residence and fled, Cleveland said.
According to Tonya Wilson, her children are terrified. "It's absolutely destroyed my daughter," she told The State Journal. "She wants to move. She sees them when she sleeps."
Wilson said her sister-in-law rented a trailer from Hall, but the family had not seen Wright before the incident.
Wilson said to Hall and Wright's relatives as the two parties left the court she would make sure Hall and Wright wouldn't leave prison if threats continued.
Deputies escorted members away from one another and off courthouse property. No one was reported injured and no arrests were made.
Wright was accidentally released from jail when he posted a bond less than what was required, but a judge ruled the lesser amount adequate.
Cleveland acknowledged in court Monday Wright has complied with the terms of his release.
Hall remains at the Franklin County Regional Jail.
Cleveland asked in court that Hall and Wright and their families have no contact with the victims in any form.
Judge Roger Crittenden set sentencing for Dec. 12.