The Lexington Police Department is joining the Office of the Fayette County Sheriff in warning Lexington residents of a telephone scam.

The scam caller claims that your or someone in your household has: an active arrest warrant, unpaid fine or missed a grand jury appearance. The caller, who falsely identifies himself as a Fayette County Deputy Sheriff, informs people they must now pay a fine. The caller has asked victims to purchase a pre-paid or reloadable money card and then provide the “deputy” with the card number over the phone to settle the fine.

 http://liarcatchers.com/fraud_investigation.html

This telephone number is fraudulent and the caller is not associated with the Office of the Fayette County Sheriff. The Lexington Police and Office of Sheriff advise everyone to be cautious of calls that request payment or access to personally identifiable information, regardless of who the caller claims to represent.

Neither the Office of the Fayette County Sheriff nor the Lexington Police Department will ever ask you for money over the phone to pay a fine.

If you are contacted by this scammer DO NOT send any money. Get as much information about the caller as you can and contact the Office of the Fayette County Sheriff immediately at (859) 252-1771.

The man accused of murdering a prominent central Ky. defense attorney has pleaded guilty but mentally ill to the charges.

Back in February a judge had ruled that Clinton Inabnitt was competent to face trial in the shooting death of Mark Stanziano.

On Monday, LEX 18 was the only station there as Inabnitt pleaded guilty but mentally ill to murder and wanton endangerment. Inabnitt admitted to gunning down 57-year-old Mark Stanziano on June 27, 2014 in downtown Somerset.

http://liarcatchers.com/wrongful_death.html

Stanziano, who represented the preacher charged with the triple murder at Danville’s ABC Gold Games & More, was making his way to his office when witnesses say Inabnitt opened fire on the attorney. The murder trial was set to start July 1st, 2015.

Mark Stanziano’s widow, Bethany, recently asked to be removed as defense counsel from the case involving preacher turned accused murderer Kenneth Allen Keith. After Mark’s death, Bethany stepped in as counsel, but cited a lack of experience on death penalty cases and her previous trauma after the death of her husband as grounds for her removal .

A Hoquiam man was booked in the Grays Harbor County Jail last week on suspicion of third-degree rape of a child, according to a statement from the Hoquiam Police Department.

The Associated Press reports that 42-year-old man was already a registered sex offender for a 1993 conviction for rapes in the second and third degree in King County, police said.

Police say the man befriended a teenage girl who visited his apartment at least twice at the end of May while her mother was gone. The man, the statement says, was apparently aware of the girl’s age, but told her he was attracted to her and pressured her to have sex.

http://liarcatchers.com/pedophile_tracking.html

Police say the girl later told detectives that the two had sex, adding that the man told her not to tell anyone.

Police in Louisville have released the name of the woman killed in a hit and run Saturday night.

Officials say 19-year old Deniesha Pugh died of multiple blunt force trauma. Pugh was hit by a car while crossing the street and dragged down Broadway several blocks.

http://liarcatchers.com/wrongful_death.html

Police say they are still searching for the car involved. It has been described as a white Chevy Impala and would likely have damage to the front end and windshield.

Lexington Police are looking for three men who robbed some teenagers early Sunday morning.

Officers tell LEX 18 that just before 3:00 a.m. three teens were outside their apartment complex on Codell Drive when they were approached by three men. One of the men pulled out a handgun while another man punched one of the teens. Authorities say the crooks got away with some cash and a phone.

http://liarcatchers.com/contact.php

Police do not have a good description of the robbers. Witnesses say they got away in a gray Toyota Sedan.

A former Hoover church worker, who already faced 22 charges from Jefferson and Shelby counties involving the rape of a 7-year-old girl, now faces federal child porn charges related to the same victim.

Jason Michael Hankins, 34, was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on two counts of production of child porn, and one count each of receipt of child porn and possession of child porn, court records show.  The production of child porn involved a cell phone, according to the indictment.

The indictment also seeks forfeiture of Hankins’ cell phone and computer and hard drive.

Hankins is to be arraigned on the charges July 9 before U.S. Magistrate Judge John H England III.

http://liarcatchers.com/pedophile_tracking.html

Hankins is currently being held in jail on $6 million bond for his arrest on charges in Jefferson County.

Besides the new federal charges, Hankins faces 22 charges related to the sexual assault of a minor in Jefferson and Shelby counties: 11 counts of producing pornographic images with a minor; 3 counts first-degree sexual abuse; 2 counts first-degree rape; 2 counts first-degree sodomy; and one count year of child abuse; distribution of pornography to a minor; and sexual torture.

A jury trial on six of the charges from the Bessemer Cutoff is set for Aug. 24. A jury trial has not been set on the seven related charges in Shelby County.

Assistant Bessemer Cutoff District Attorney Leslie Schiffman said at a bond hearing last year that thousands of images of child pornography were found on Hankins’ phone. Several images also were found showing Hankins having sex with the child, she said.

Schiffman also said the allegations – which are outlined in a police affidavit – include that Hankins had a dog lick the genitalia of the girl and of him.

A Reynolds County man who was reported missing for over a week was found dead Thursday from an apparent car crash in Shannon County.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Christen Thiel Shoemaker, 38, of Ellington, was driving a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta. Troopers believe he was traveling southbound on Highway 19, 0.9 miles north of Eminence, when the vehicle crossed the centerline and traveled off the left side of the road and struck a tree.

http://liarcatchers.com/missing_persons_investigations.html

The vehicle was not located until Thursday. Shannon County Deputy Coroner Rebecca L. Ballew pronounced Shoemaker dead. It was unknown if Shoemaker was wearing a seat belt.

On Thursday Parsons Police Department took a report for a missing woman, Megan Semones, 29. The last contact she reportedly had was on Friday, June 19, when she texted two friends and said she was going camping with a friend.

http://liarcatchers.com/missing_persons_investigations.html

Semones was entered into NCIC and the case continues to be an ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Semones should contact the police department at (620) 421-7060.

Police in Lexington are searching for a knife wielding suspect after a man was stabbed early Saturday morning.

Officers tell LEX 18 that the stabbing happened just before 3:00 a.m. at Main and Broadway near The Square. Authorities say two men were outside The Square when they got into some sort of argument. One of the men was stabbed in the stomach.

http://liarcatchers.com/contact.php

The victim was taken to UK Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police tell LEX 18 that they are still looking for the suspect and say the victim and suspect knew each other.