Murder charge leads Grand Jury indictments

By Greg Bird
birdman@tmcvoice.com

Leading the indictments this month is a murder charge levied against a Whitley City man accused of assaulting a two-year old child in August, causing the death of the young toddler. The indictment was just one of 11 indictments released this month involving 15 individuals.
Michael C. Huff, 27, was formally charged with murder this week by the Grand Jury after Kentucky State Police Trooper Harrison Wells presented evidence to the jurors that led them to conclude the matter should go to trial.
According to reports at the time of the alleged incident a call came in to McCreary 911 around 7:00 p.m. on August 25, and indicated a young child was possibly choking at a residence on Jennys Branch Road. The child was transported to the Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries. Medical officials contacted KSP, who began the investigation after indications the child possibly had been assaulted were discovered.
The child was transported that evening to the University of Kentucky Medical Center for further treatment, but unfortunately passed away.
Huff was originally arrested on assault charges, due to the fact at the time the warrant was issued the child was still alive. The charges were upgraded to murder after the untimely death.
The three men accused of stealing a statue of the Virgin Mary from the Good Shepherd Catholic Church last month will also face formal charges relating to the theft.
Jonathan Coffey, Jacob Jones, and Jackie Troxell, all of Whitley City, were indicted on charges of Theft by Unlawful Taking of the Value of $500 or more and Criminal Mischief Second Degree for reportedly taking the statue and causing damage to it and its’ b
ase on September 19.
Brandon New, of Stearns, was charged with counts of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Fourth Offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance First Degree and Tampering with Physical Evidence stemming from his September 6 arrest.
New is accused of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of narcotics on that date. He has three prior convictions in 2009, 2013 and 2015. He allegedly attempted to destroy, mutilate, conceal, remove or alter physical evidence and was in possession of a quantity of a schedule II controlled substance at the time of his arrest.
Amanda Richardson, of Pine Knot, was indicted on a count of Theft of Identity of Another Without Consent for reportedly knowingly and unlawfully using the personal information of another individual without consent on September 15.
Richard Marion, of Strunk, was charged with Receiving Stolen Property of the Value of $500 or More for allegedly knowingly and unlawfully receiving and possessing a 1989 Chevy pickup that had been stolen.
Marion was also charged with being a Persistent Felony Offender after a previous felony conviction in 2012.
Bobby King, of Stearns, was indicted on a count of Forgery Second Degree for allegedly forging a deed on August 16.
King was also charged with being a Persistent Felony Offender after previous felony convictions in 2001, 2005 and 2015.
Ed Strunk, Tiffany Rose and Daniel Perry, all of Parkers Lake, were charged with Receiving Stolen Property of the Value of $500 or more for reportedly knowingly and unlawfully receiving stolen tools, an AR15 and other miscellaneous items on August 19.
Virgil Allen, of Pine Knot, was indicted on a count of Possession of a Controlled Substance First Degree for allegedly being found with a quantity of Methamphetamine, a schedule II controlled substance on August 16.
Timothy Reynolds, of Williamsburg, was indicted on a count of Possession of a Controlled Substance First Degree for allegedly being found with a quantity of Methamphetamine, a schedule II controlled substance on June 2.
Toby Dodson, of Marshes Siding, was charged with one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance First Degree for allegedly being found with a quantity of Methamphetamine, a schedule II controlled substance on July 10.
Billy Roberts, address unknown, was indicted on counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance First Degree and Tampering with Physical Evidence after reportedly being found with a quantity of Methamphetamine on July 10, and destroying, mutilating, concealing, removing or altering physical evidence.
He was also charged with being a Persistent Felony Offender after previous felony conviction in 2017 and 2019.

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.