Accused killer: cop shooter indicted
By Greg Bird
birdman@tmcvoice.com
Two men who made headlines for nefarious reasons in the last few months were formally indicted by the McCreary County Grand Jury this week. Mark Dungan, accused of shooting McCreary County Sheriff’s Deputy Tyler Watkins, and Preston Clark, accused of fatally shooting Larissa Cox, were both formally charged by the Grand Jury and their cases will move forward. In all 16 people were indicted in a dozen cases this month.
Mark Dungan, of Science Hill, is the man accused of shooting Deputy Watkins on July 19 as the officer was responding to a residence on Lick Creek Road for a status check on an individual. As Watkins arrived at the scene, he saw Dungan sitting in a vehicle on the property and went to investigate. Dungan reportedly pulled a weapon and discharged it at the deputy, striking him twice and leaving him severely injured and fighting for his life.
Dungan fled the scene, and while he attempted to get away, met Constable Cody Stephens on the roadway, who was responding to assist the deputy. Dungan allegedly rammed the Constable’s vehicle, causing severe damage to the cruiser and disabling it. Dungan was eventually tracked down to a nearby cemetery and was apprehended after a short stand off with Kentucky State Police Troopers.
He was indicted on counts of Attempted Murder, Tampering with Physical Evidence, Criminal Mischief, Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon, Fleeing or Evading Police, Wanton Endangerment and Resisting arrest.
Preston Timothy Clark, of Stearns, was charged with one count of Murder for his supposed role in the fatal shooting of Larissa Cox on June 26.
According to the Kentucky State Police at the time of his arrest, Preston T. Clark, 20, had been charged with murder after he allegedly shot and killed Larissa Cox, 48, following an argument at a home on Old State Garage Road.
Other indictments
released Monday
include:
Gala McKee, of Whitley City was indicted on two counts of False Statement/Misrepresent to Obtain Benefits over $100 for allegedly making false statements or misrepresenting facts affecting eligibility for SNAP and Medicare benefits from September 2003 through April 2019. In total McKee is accused of fraudulently obtaining over $22,000 in SNAP payments and over $25,000 in Medicare benefits during that time.
Greg Baird, of Whitley City, was indicted on a count of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance for reportedly knowingly and unlawfully having in his possession over 2 grams of Methamphetamine for the purpose of sale on July 3.
Rhonda Perry, of Whitley City, Jessica Stephens, of Parkers Lake and Larry Foster, of Revelo, were indicted on one count of Theft by Unlawful Taking for allegedly knowingly and unlawfully taking a 1999 Ford Ranger of the value of $500 or more owned by another individual on May 24.
Tyler Mason, of Pine Knot, was indicted on counts of Receiving Stolen Property of the Value of $500 or more, Tampering With Physical Evidence and Criminal Mischief. The indictment contends Mason reportedly knowingly and unlawfully received and possessed a 2000 Jeep Wrangler that had been stolen, intentionally damaging the vehicle causing damage in excess of $1,000 and destroying, mutilating, concealing, removing or altering physical evidence which would have been used in an official proceeding.
Mason was also charged with one count of being a Persistent Felony Offender after a previous felony conviction in 2018.
Corey Dionne, of Strunk, was charged with one count of Sexual Abuse First Degree for allegedly subjecting a child less than 12 years of age to sexual contact between September 2010 to December 2010.
Tristen King, Kodie Kidd, both of Pine Knot and Justin Musgrove, address unknown, were indicted on counts of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia for reportedly being found with a quantity of Methamphetamine for the purpose of sale and items commonly used for the ingestion and/or distribution of illegal controlled substances on May 30.
Kidd was also charged with one count of Escape Second Degree for reportedly escaping from Constable Cody Stephens after being charged with a felony, and Musgrove was also charged with Tampering With Physical Evidence for reportedly and destroying, mutilating, concealing, removing or altering physical evidence which would have been used in an official proceeding.
Michael Lyons, of Whitley City, was indicted on counts of Receiving Stolen Property of the Value of $500 or more and Criminal Mischief for allegedly knowingly and unlawfully receiving and possessing a 1995 Yamaha motorcycle that had been stolen and causing more than $1,000 worth of damage to the vehicle.
Lyons was also charged with being a Persistent Felony Offender after previous felony convictions in 2016 and 2018.
Tammy King, address unknown, was indicted on a count of Possession of a Controlled Substance for reportedly being found with a quantity of Methamphetamine on April 2.
Mickey Kidd, of Pine Knot, was charged with one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance for allegedly being found with a quantity of Methamphetamine on April 2.
Shaina Sims, of Parkers Lake was indicted on a count of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance for reportedly selling a quantity of cocaine on August 14.
The Voice would like to remind our readers that an indictment is not an indication of one’s guilt or innocence, but represents that enough evidence exists in a case to pursue the matter in a court of law.
