Published: August 08, 2008 12:31 pm         

Two accept guilty pleas: Terry and Wages cases

Child predator case

Child predator suspect Paul Keith Terry has pleaded guilty to criminal use of a computer after distributing obscene online material to a trained police officer, while believing the officer was a 13-year-old female.

Terry admitted to the crime Aug. 1 during a change of plea hearing in Rowan Circuit Court. His sentencing hearing is set for Sept. 5.

Terry will receive punishment to charges of unlawful use of electronic means to induce a minor to engage in sexual or other prohibited activities, Class D felony; and one charge of distributing obscene material to a minor, first offense.

The 48-year-old Jackson man was arrested in July 2007 after Morehead Police Lt. David Sexton talked online with Terry during a four-week period, while pretending to be a young female.

The conversations were a type to promote the assumed female to meet and have sex with Terry, Sexton said following the arrest.

Sexton advised other child predators Wednesday that at anytime of the day or night a trained police officer could be on the receiving side of a computer chat.

“People need to be aware they can’t get on a computer and say and do what they want,” Sexton said. “Parents also need to do their part in protecting their children from child predators.”

During the chats, Terry also used a web camera to expose his genitals to the supposed female.

Sexton said toward the end of the investigation, Terry became suspicious and feared being caught.

Sexton then obtained a warrant, and along with Kentucky State Police, traveled to Jackson and made the arrest.

Sexton is a member of the Kentucky Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The sentencing hearing is set for 11 a.m.

Arson, home invasion

Arson and burglary suspect Chase Wages pleaded guilty to all charges Aug.1 during a pre-trial conference in Rowan Circuit Court.

The sentencing hearing is set for Sept. 5 where 20-year-old Wages will receive punishment on one charge of first-degree arson, one charge of first-degree burglary, two charges of second-degree burglary, one charge of second-degree unlawful imprisonment, and four charges of receiving stolen property over $300.

Wages, and 23-year-old Brandon McWain were indicted by a grand jury Dec. 21, 2007 in connection to the Oct. 22 fire that destroyed the home of the late Dale Kelsey. The home also was burglarized Oct. 19 where Kelsey’s Purple Heart and a coin collection were stolen.

The indictment charged both men with first-degree arson and second-degree burglary when they allegedly started a fire with the intent to destroy or damage Kelsey’s home located at 345 Mellwood Lane.

Wages also pled guilty to the Oct. 29, 2007 home invasion of the Darlene Caskey residence when he admitted to breaking into Caskey’s home, while forcing her into a closet and burglarizing the residence.

Morehead Police Chief Mike Adams said he is relieved to hear Wages decided to own up to the crimes. “We are pleased that he (Wages) went ahead and decided to cooperate with us,” Adams commented Thursday. “That portion of it has come to an end, and we hope nothing like this ever happens again. It’s really sad that it all had to transpire, but we are very thankful that no one actually got physically hurt in all of it.”

Wages was arrested shortly after the home invasion and taken to the Rowan County Detention Center where he has remained on a $100,000 full cash bond and a $75,000 full-cash bond.

Chase’s victims include Kelsey, Caskey, Ivan Grimshaw, Jordon Smith and William and Carla McCormick. The sentencing hearing is set for 1 p.m.

McWain, the alleged accomplice in the home invasion and arson case, became a fugitive from justice following the burglary at Caskey’s home.

McWain was captured March 3 in New Mexico, while running from the law since October.

Santa Fe Police arrested him at a local mall after Morehead Police Detective Ryan Solee received an anonymous call concerning McWain’s whereabouts.

He refused extradition back to Kentucky but following the issue of a governor’s warrant, McWain was returned to the Bluegrass to face charges of first-degree arson, second-degree unlawful imprisonment and first and second-degree burglary.

McWain remains in the Carter County Detention Center on a $450 “pay or stay” charge for theft. He also faces charges of receiving stolen property over $300 in Montgomery County.

The bond was set at $10,000 full cash for the Montgomery charge and $100,000 full-cash for the arson charge. McWain appeared in Rowan County Circuit Court for a pre-trial conference Aug. 1. No action was taken and a jury trial is set for Sept. 15.