Published: August 29, 2008 12:27 pm         

Grand Jury indicts 16

A Rowan County grand jury handed down 16 indictments Aug. 15 including charges of rape, robbery and wanton endangerment of a child.

A 40-year-old Morehead man is among those charged after committing the offense of third-degree rape when he allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse with a minor female under the age of 16.

Stephen Marcus could face up to fives years in prison if found guilty of the crimes that allegedly took place from August 2007 through March 2008.

Kentucky State Police Detective Toby Gardner appeared before the grand jury as witness for the commonwealth. A criminal summons was issued for Marcus to appear in court Sept. 5.

A former assistant professor at Morehead State University also was indicted on one charge of first-degree wanton endangerment when she allegedly smoked crack cocaine in front of her 2-month-old daughter while traveling along Interstate 64.

Noelle, N’Diaye, 37, also faces one count of first-degree criminal abuse when she allegedly permitted the child to remain in the vehicle while she smoked crack cocaine, thus resulting in the infant testing positive for the presence of the drug in her system.

Morehead Police Officer Mark Hammonds, who appeared before the grand jury as a witness, arrested N’Diaye Nov. 11, 2007, at her Sun Street residence after the child was drug tested.

According to the indictment, N’Diaye manifested extreme indifference to the value of human life, wantonly engaged in conduct, which created a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury to the child.

Lt. Dave Sexton said the situation was first reported as a missing person case after N’Diaye’s husband told police his wife and daughter didn’t return home Nov. 10. Both the mother and child were located after police received a call concerning a woman locked out of her vehicle at the I-64 westbound rest area near the Morehead exit. “We were notified that a woman was locked out of her car and the child was inside the vehicle,” Sexton said following the November arrest. “She was then taken off the missing persons’ list, but shortly later we got a call about a domestic on west Sun Street. When we got the husband wanted the child checked for drugs.”

Her arraignment is set for Sept. 5. The docket states that N’Diaye might be in drug rehab. While teaching geography, government and history at MSU, N’Diaye received the “Favorite Faculty” award from students at the university. Earlier in the year, she resigned her position as a professor at MSU. N’Diaye could face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty of both charges.

A grand jury indictment is a formal accusation of a crime and does not establish guilt.

Other indictments include:

• Bernadine Wright, no age given, one charge of complicity to commit first-degree burglary when she allegedly aided William McDonald in the act of second-degree robbery by driving a vehicle Feb. 22 to and from the residence of Jewell Ferguson for McDonald. Wright faces up to 10 years behind bars if found guilty.

• Kathryn W. Roe, 52, one charge of theft by unlawful taking when she allegedly withdrew $6,523.84 from the bank account of Solinet, a non-profit membership organization that serves more than 2,600 libraries of all types and sizes in 10 southeastern states and the Caribbean. The indictment states that during the time between January 2007 to September 2007, Roe used the money for her own personal use. Roe served as treasurer for Solinet when the alleged offense took place. If convicted, she could face up to five years in prison.

• Carson J. Carter, 35, one charge of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance June 11, 2007, Oxycodone; one charge of first-degree persistent felony offender.

Prior to the offense, Carter was convicted April 2, 2004 of three counts of third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, trafficking in marijuana and two counts of receiving stolen property over $300 by a final judgment of the Elliott County Circuit Court. He was sentenced to eight and one-half years.

And prior to the April 2 judgment, Carter was convicted Dec. 9, 2002 of two counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and trafficking in marijuana by a final judgment of the Elliott County Circuit Court. He was sentenced to six and one-half years on each count to run concurrently with the former sentence. Carter was on parole when he allegedly committed the June 11 offense. Carter could faces 10 or more years behind bars if found guilty on both charges.

• Steven Paul Caudill, 24, one charge of receiving stolen property over $300 when he allegedly attempted to pawn an X-BOX 360 between July 1 and Aug. 30 that was reported stolen from a residence at 735 Vernon Drive, as well as allegedly had in his house multiple items that were reported stolen from the residence including jewelry and a video camera. The items were valued at approximately $3,400; one charge of second-degree burglary when he allegedly from the period of July 1 to Aug. 30 entered or remained in the dwelling of Todd and Lisa Russell at their Vernon Drive residence; one charge of second-degree burglary when he allegedly from July 1 to Aug. 30 entered or remained unlawfully in a dwelling at 830 West Main Street. Caudill could face up to 25 years in prison if found guilty on all charges.

• Tara Eldridge, 28, and Charles Lamp, 43, each charged with receiving stolen property over $300 when they on Nov. 8, 2007 allegedly pawned a Peavy Bass guitar and TNT bass amplifier belonging to the Mt. Pisgah Christian Church, valued at $450. The defendants could face up to five years each in prison if found guilty.

• Anthony S. Leadingham, 31, one charge of receiving stolen property Aug. 3, 2007 when he allegedly stole eight catalytic converters belonging to Caudill’s recycling, valued at $326; one charge of receiving stolen property under $300 when allegedly stole merchandise valued at $6 from the County Market.

• Joey Dean Stevens, 34, one charge of theft by unlawful taking over $300 when he allegedly stole a 1995 Lexus July 7 owned by Reniyu Yang, valued at $7,000; one charge of first-degree persistent felony offender. Prior to the offense, Stevens was convicted Jan. 21, 2003 of second-degree burglary by final judgment of the Greenup Circuit Court and sentenced to five years behind bars.

Also prior to committing the Aug. 3 offense, Stevens was convicted Jan. 21, 1998 of first-degree burglary in Rowan County Circuit Court. And on Jan. 17, 1997 he was sentenced to 10 years following a conviction of third-degree burglary and theft by unlawful taking over $300, April 16, 1993, by Rowan County Circuit Court and sentenced to one year. Stevens was on parole from at least one of the prior convictions at the time of the July 7 offense. If found guilty on both charges, Stevens could face more than five years in prison.

• Charles Kelly, 25, one charge of receiving stolen property over $300 when during the period between July 1 to Aug. 30 he allegedly was found in possession of a Toshiba laptop reported stolen from a rental property at 826 West Main Street. The laptop was valued at $750; one charge of receiving stolen property over $300 when he allegedly retained 95 compact discs (CDs) and two CD cases that were reported stolen from two separate cars parked along Green Street between the period of July 1 to Aug. 30. The items were valued at $500. Kelly faces up to 10 years if convicted on both charges.

• Barrett Johnson, 23, one charge of receiving stolen property over $300 when he retained jewelry and other property May 6, belonging to Rebecca Johnson and valued at $1,250. Johnson faces up to fives years if found guilty.

• Shalla Bae Thompson, 37, one charge of second-degree possession of a controlled substance, Hydrocodone; one charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, second offense, and one charge of second-degree persistent felony offender. Thompson could face over 10 years in prison if found guilty on all three charges.

• Mitchell R. Kidd, 26, one charge of receiving stolen property under $300 when he allegedly was in Rowan County from July 22, 2007 to Feb. 22, 2008 and in possession of a cellular phone taken from the Bath County Department of Social Services; one charge of theft of services when he allegedly obtained access to services by use of deception, threat or other means to avoid payment for the services which one knows are available only for charge or compensation and said services had a value in excess of $300. Kidd allegedly used the phone in Rowan County and over a period of time ran the bill up to $2,457.30. He could face up to five years if found guilty.

• Debra Ann Kiser, 25, one charge of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument when she allegedly forged a check March 3 on the account of Roger Dale Scaggs from the Citizens Bank in Morehead in the amount of $600. Kiser faces up to fives years if convicted.

• Edward Allen Stilton, 28, one charge of second-degree possession of a forged instrument when he allegedly forged a check March 5 on the account of Roger Dale Scaggs from the Citizens Bank in Morehead in the amount of $600; one charge of second degree possession of a forged instrument when he forged a check March 8 on the account of Roger Scaggs from the Citizens Bank in the amount of $500. Stilton could face up to five years if found guilty.

• Norma J. Brown, 27, one charge of theft by unlawful taking over $300 when she allegedly stole merchandise June 25 from the Morehead Wal-Mart that was valued at approximately $349. If convicted, Brown could face up to five years behind bars.