Grand jury releases 27 indictments

SALYERSVILLE – A Magoffin County grand jury released the following indictments on April 18:

Jessica N. Arnett, 33, of Campton, is charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense, fentanyl derivatives (Class C felony); first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, drug unspecified (Class D felony); tampering with physical evidence (Class D felony); first-degree fleeing and evading police on foot (Class D felony); and possession of drug paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor). According to the indictment, on or about August 29, 2023, Arnett allegedly possessed drug paraphernalia and quantities of fentanyl with the intent to distribute the drug, attempted to destroy, mutilate, conceal or remove physical evidence from being able to be used in official proceedings, and ran from police.

Destany Defenbaugh, 23, of Louisville, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, methamphetamine (Class D felony); possession of drug paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor); no operator’s license (Class B misdemeanor); possession of marijuana (Class B misdemeanor); and speeding 26 MPH or more over the speed limit (violation). According to the indictment, on or about December 21, 2023, Defenbaugh allegedly possessed a quantity of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana, as well as operated a motor vehicle over the speed limit and without an operator’s license.

Cammie Prater, 62, of Far Middle Fork in Salyersville, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, methamphetamine (Class D felony); tampering with physical evidence (Class D felony); and possession of drug paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor). According to the indictment, on or about March 11, 2023, Prater allegedly possessed a quantity of methamphetamine, attempted to destroy, conceal, remove, or mutilate physical evidence she believed could be used in an official proceeding, and possessed drug paraphernalia.

Rondall Fee, 58, of Far Middle Fork in Salyersville, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, methamphetamine (Class D felony); and possession of drug paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor) According to the indictment, on or about March 11, 2023, Fee allegedly possessed a quantity of methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia.

Kenneth Downes, 55, of Louisville, is charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense, greater than or equal to 2 grams of methamphetamine (Class C felony); and possession of drug paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor). According to the indictment, on or about December 21, 2023, Downes allegedly possessed a quantity of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the substance, as well as possessed drug paraphernalia.

Henry Clifton, 54, of Prestonsburg, is charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense, fentanyl derivatives (Class C felony); and possession of drug paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor). According to the indictment, on or about December 29, 2023, Clifton allegedly possessed a quantity of fentanyl with the intent to distribute the substance, as well as possessed drug paraphernalia.

Justin B. Hughes, 42, of Ivel, is charged with third-degree burglary (Class D felony); first-degree criminal mischief (Class D felony); and theft by unlawful taking or disposition all others, $1,000 or more but under $10,000 (Class D felony). According to the indictment, on or about August 28, 2023, Hughes allegedly entered and/or remained unlawfully in a building owned by Action Storage Rentals, intentionally defaced, destroyed or damaged property owned by the business, causing a pecuniary loss of over $500, and took or exercised control over movable property of another valued at $1,241.

Bryan D. Benton 48, of Scott Ave. in Salyersville, is charged with possession of a handgun by a convicted felon (Class C felony). According to the indictment, on or about November 13, 2023, Benton alleged possessed a handgun when he had been previously convicted of a felony.

Maddlin Faye McKenzie, 49, of New Boston, Ohio, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, drug unspecified (Class D felony). According to the indictment, on or about July 24, 2023, McKenzie possessed a quantity of Fluorofentanyl, a Schedule I narcotic.

Audie Banks, 40, of Campton, is charged with first-degree possession of controlled substance, first offense, drug unspecified (Class D felony). According to the indictment, on or about August 29, 2023, Banks allegedly possessed a quantity of Fentanyl, a Schedule II narcotic.
Jeffrey Lykins, 49, of Far Middle Fork in Salyersville, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, drug unspecified (Class D felony). According to the indictment, on or about August 29, 2023, Lykins allegedly possessed a quantity of Fentanyl, Schedule II narcotic.

Paul Edward Varney, 46, of Prestonsburg, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, methamphetamine (Class D felony). According to the indictment, on or about April 3, 2023, Varney allegedly possessed a quantity of methamphetamine.

Jesse Ocasio, 37, of Hager Hill, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, methamphetamine (Class D felony). According to the indictment, on or about September 7, 2023, Varney allegedly possessed a quantity of methamphetamine.

William Coffey, 58, of Lick Creek in Salyersville, is charged with first-degree wanton endangerment (Class D felony). According to the indictment, on or about February 4, 2024, Coffey allegedly engaged in conduct which created a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury to another person.

Nathaniel Stephens, 42, of Royalton Road, Lawrence Stephens Lane, in Salyersville, is charged with first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer (Class D felony); and first-degree fleeing and evading police, motor vehicle (Class D felony). According to the indictment, on or about October 23, 2023, Stephens allegedly engaged in conduct which created a substance danger of death or serious physical injury to a Magoffin County Sheriff’s Department deputy, as well as wantonly disobeyed police directions to stop with the intent to elude or flee.

Daniel R. Caudill, 38, of Route 49 West in Falcon, is charged with first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer (Class D felony); first-degree fleeing and evading police of a motor vehicle (Class D felony); first-degree wanton endangerment (Class C felony); and leaving the scene of an accident/failure to render aid or assistance (Class A misdemeanor). According to the indictment, on or about September 5, 2023, Caudill allegedly engaged in conduct which created substantial danger of death or serious injury to other people (one of which was a Magoffin County Sheriff’s Department deputy), disobeyed police directions to stop with the intent to elude or flee, and left the scene of an accident without notifying law enforcement or attempting to render aid to in injured person.

Daniel R. Caudill, 38, of Route 49 West in Falcon, is also charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, methamphetamine (Class D felony) and tampering with physical evidence (Class D felony). According to the indictment, on or about October 15, 2023, Caudill allegedly possessed a quantity of methamphetamine and attempted to destroy, mutilate, conceal, or remove physical evidence he believed was about to be used for an official proceeding.

Zachary Scott Prater, 36, of West Liberty, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, methamphetamine (Class D felony). According to the indictment, on or about August 22, 2023, Prater allegedly possessed a quantity of methamphetamine.

Ronnie L. Caldwell, 37, of Richmond, Kentucky, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, methamphetamine (Class D felony). According to the indictment, on or about August 27, 2023, Caldwell allegedly possessed a quantity of methamphetamine.

Tiffany Laree Young, 28, of Elkfork, Kentucky, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, methamphetamine (Class D felony); first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, drug unspecified (Class D felony); first-degree fleeing and evading police on foot; and operating a motor vehicle on suspended or revoked operator’s license (Class B misdemeanor). According to the indictment, on or about February 11, 2024, Young allegedly possessed quantities of methamphetamine and Fentanyl, a Schedule II narcotic, as well as attempted to run away from police on foot, disobeying directions to stop in an attempt to elude or flee, and operated a motor vehicle while her license was suspended or revoked.

Buddy Allen Collins, 50, of Salyersville, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, methamphetamine (Class D felony). According to the indictment, on or about February 8, 2023, Collins allegedly possessed a quantity of methamphetamine.

Darrell Perkins, 41, of Meadows Branch, in Salyersville, is charged with second-degree burglary (Class C felony); second-degree fleeing and evading police on foot (Class A misdemeanor); and possession of burglary tools (Class A misdemeanor). According to the indictment, on or about January 7, 2024, Perkins allegedly entered or remained unlawfully in a dwelling, disobeyed police directions to stop with the intent to elude or flee, while also possessing tools commonly used for forcible entry.

Leroy Perkins, 37, of Meadows Branch, in Salyersville, is charged with second-degree burglary (Class C felony); second-degree fleeing and evading police on foot (Class A misdemeanor); and possession of burglary tools (Class A misdemeanor). According to the indictment, on or about January 7, 2024, Perkins allegedly entered or remained unlawfully in a dwelling, disobeyed police directions to stop with the intent to elude or flee, while also possessing tools commonly used for forcible entry.

Denver Swafford Jr., 57, of Calla Howard Road, in Salyersville, is charged with second-degree burglary (Class C felony); second-degree fleeing and evading police on foot (Class A misdemeanor); and possession of burglary tools (Class A misdemeanor). According to the indictment, on or about January 7, 2024, Swafford allegedly entered or remained unlawfully in a dwelling, disobeyed police directions to stop with the intent to elude or flee, while also possessing tools commonly used for forcible entry.

Paul D. Bailey, 34, of Adams Lane, in Salyersville, is charged with two counts of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon (Class C felony); five counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (Class D felony); and possession of drug paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor).

According to the indictment, on or about July 20, 2023, Bailey allegedly possessed numerous handguns and firearms while having previously been convicted of a felony, as well as drug paraphernalia.

Gerald Williams, 39, of Lick Creek Road, in Salyersville, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, methamphetamine (Class D felony); second-degree fleeing and evading police on foot (Class a misdemeanor); possession of drug paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor); possession of marijuana (Class B misdemeanor); and second-degree persistent felony offender. According to the indictment, on or about May 16, 2023, Williams allegedly possessed a quantity of methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia, as well as attempted to elude or flee on foot from police.

James Lavon Arnett, 48, of Left Johnson Fork, in Salyersville, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, methamphetamine (Class D felony); tampering with physical evidence (Class D felony); first-degree fleeing and evading police, motor vehicle (Class D felony); second-degree fleeing and evading police on foot (Class A misdemeanor); public intoxication of a controlled substance, excluding alcohol (Class B misdemeanor); third-degree criminal mischief (Class B misdemeanor). According to the indictment, on or about October 10, 2023, Arnett allegedly possessed a quantity of methamphetamine, attempted to destroy, mutilate, conceal and removed evidence he believed was about to be used in official proceedings, then fled from police in a motor vehicle, as well as on foot. He allegedly appeared in public under the influence of a controlled substance, as well as intentionally defaced, destroyed or damaged property owned by another person, causing pecuniary loss of less than $500.

Editor’s Note: The indictment or charge of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.