February 28, 2008

Puryear pleads not guilty
By James Cook, Times Editor

The alleged shooter in the murder of a Mount Sterling man whose body was found in Slade has pleaded not guilty. Ricky Lee Puryear, 36, of Jeffersonville was arraigned in Powell Circuit Court last Wednesday on the charges of murder, tampering with physical evidence and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Puryear is charged with the shooting death of Michael A. Flora.
Flora, 22, was found one mile east of Slade on the side of the road on Jan. 20 by some out-of-state hikers. According to Kentucky State Police investigators and a preliminary coroner’s report, Flora died from multiple gunshot wounds. At least one shot was to the head and at least five shell casings were found at the scene. According to court documents, during their investigation, police had discovered that Flora and Puryear were seen together the night before the body was discovered. Puryear had even told an investigator that he was going after another man who he said, “killed my friend” referring to Flora. A warrant for terroristic threatening was issued for Puryear at that time.
However, KSP investigators also received some information from a potential witness. According to the arrest citation on the murder charge, Puryear’s alleged girlfriend, Christi Jones, told investigators that she drove Puryear and Flora to Slade. Puryear allegedly ordered her to stop the car and she pulled off the side of the road. Puryear and Flora exited the vehicle and she reportedly heard several gunshots. The statement went on to say that Puryear got back into the vehicle and told her to drive, so she complied.
Puryear was appointed Lisa Whisman from the Public Defenders office as his attorney. Whisman informed the court that another attorney, Gary Salyers, would also be part of the defense team. Whisman also made a motion that all evidence be preserved as some evidence may be destroyed during testing. Commonwealth Attorney Darrell Herald advised the court that he would probably have no objection, but “I literally just got his motion two minutes ago so I’d like time to look it over,” he said. “Powell Circuit Judge Frank Fletcher agreed and set a Pretrial Conference for March 19. Whisman was also granted a motion to receive KSP photos, without objection from he commonwealth.
Puryear was arrested and charged in the case on Jan. 31 and indicted by the Powell Grand Jury on Feb. 9. Puryear has faced several misdemeanor charges in Montgomery County over recent years. Those charges range from terroristic threatening, menacing, DUI and disorderly conduct. Puryear had been charged with unlawful imprisonment in Menifee County in 2006, but that charge. Puryear also was charged with assault fourth degree in Fayette County back in 1995, but his fines were paid and the case is closed. He is still lodged in the Powell County Detention Center under a $500,000 cash bond.
Former constable and city police officer Shelvy “Bud” Pelfrey will finally have his day in court. Pelfrey will be back in court on March 5 for a pretrial conference and then his trial is set to begin on March 28.
Pelfrey, 56 of Clay City, was arrested in June after being followed by an off duty state police captain for 11 miles. Pelfrey was arrested by Kentucky State Police and charged with fourteen different counts. Those charges ranged from speeding 15 miles per hour over the limit, reckless driving, expired or not tags, expired registration, no insurance, DUI, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, prescription not in proper container and four counts of various degrees of trafficking in controlled substances.
The traffic charges were dismissed without prejudice on June 26 after the arresting officer was not able to appear before the court. However, the drug charges remained. Pelfrey was released in August after the Powell Grand Jury at the time failed to indict him within the 60 day limit as required by law.
Pelfrey was indicted last December by a different grand jury and was a subject of interest during the pre-Christmas Operation Ho Ho Ho Round Up. Pelfrey was arrested at a family member’s home in Morgan County on an indictment warrant as part of the round up operation after Kentucky State Police received a tip. He is being held at the Powell County Detention Center on a $95,000 bond.

Deputies make timely arrest
By James Cook, Times Editor

Many times we hear of people who make threats, but never act on them. Last Sunday, one Stanton man seemed to be the exception to the rule. At least that is how Powell County Deputy Danny McCormick felt when made a traffic stop and had to remove the driver at gunpoint.
The incident started when Powell Dispatch received a call that Larry Anthony Townsend had left his home on Hall’s Hill Road in Stanton and was heading to a residence on Airport Road with a “loaded shotgun to kill” a subject who lived there. Townsend, 31, was driving a black 1998 Dodge Dakota and police were dispatched to look for the vehicle.
McCormick, who was just ending his shift, came upon the vehicle on Campton Road in Bowen. “I saw it and as I turned around on him, he turned around too,” McCormick said. “So I blocked the road on him.” According to McCormick, Townsend admitted to having a loaded shotgun behind the seat, so McCormick removed him from the vehicle at gunpoint. Powell Deputy Daryl Collins was also assisting McCormick.
“We searched the vehicle and found the loaded shotgun and two boxes of ammunition,” McCormick said. “I believe we may have stopped him from killing someone.” But the deputies also found what they believe to be two blue hydrocodone pills and one white hydrocodone pill in the vehicle.
According to McCormick and after talking with the intended victim, the incident started about two weeks ago. The alleged intended victim, who is not being identified at McCormick’s request while the case is still being investigated, stated that he had received word that Townsend may have broken into a cabin he owns near Nada, The subject went to speak to Townsend a couple of days before the arrest, but Townsend allegedly assaulted him what may have been a lawn mower blade. The subject told McCormick he went to talk to Townsend because he wanted to retrieve his items and not have to get the law involved.
The evidence seems to agree with the idea that Townsend may have wanted to kill the subject. “We have a witness who signed a statement saying that he (Townsend) told them that day (Sunday) hat he was going to kill the subject,” McCormick said.
Townsend was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, two counts of possession of a controlled substance second degree, possession of a controlled substance third degree, possession of marijuana, operating on a suspended license and failure to maintain registration and insurance. The pills were sent to the Kentucky State Police lab for testing and he marijuana charge came from a “roach and clip” that was found in the vehicle. Townsend was also wanted on three bench warrants, one from Powell County and two from Estill County. Townsend had pleaded guilty in 1997 for burglary and theft by unlawful taking over $300. He is currently being detained at the Powell County Detention Center under a $10,000 cash bond for the charges stemming from this incident. The bench warrants in Estill County are for failure to appear and bond of 10 percent of $3,500 has been set. The bench warrant in Powell County is also for failure to appear and has a $172 bond.

Kroger stores to offer $4 prescriptions
By James Cook, Times Editor

If you are like many Powell Countians you may be having trouble affording some of your medications. Kroger may be of some help. Beginning this month the Kroger Pharmacy began offering its customers many generic drugs for only $4 per prescription. More than 300 drugs fall under this newly established policy.
The plan includes generic alternatives for some of the most commonly prescribed drugs used to treat conditions such as diabetes, asthma, depression, heart disease, thyroid, and other health problems. According to Stanton Kroger Manager Chuck Brooks, “This is a reaction to Wal-Mart and to attract business from other prescription agencies.”
John Hackett, President of Kroger’s Mid South division stated, “Our customers can take advantage of low prices on generic drugs while continuing to rely on the expert, professional counsel of our pharmacists.”
Stanton Kroger Pharmacists Amy Thompson agreed, “I am excited about the program because I can assist low-income families with their prescriptions.”
Several customer questions were addressed by the Kroger officials in a pamphlet that has been given out at the local store. According to Kroger executives, if the Kroger generic price is less than the insurance co-pay, the customer will receive that lower price. Anyone wanting to take advantage of the generic drug program can easily make arrangements to transfer their prescriptions from their current pharmacy by calling participating Kroger pharmacies. More importantly the executives in charge of the program have stated Kroger will absolutely not raise other prices in order to cover this new prescription plan.
Generic drugs have gained popularity among doctors, pharmacists and patients. These medications are formulated to offer the same benefits, quality and strength of more well-known, brand-name drugs but at a much lower price. A list of the newly available drugs is available at www.kroger.com/generic or a Kroger pharmacist can advise if there is a generic equivalent to any prescribed medications.