By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
On the evening of March 13, 34 year old Kadeem Nelson, of Charlotte, North Carolina was booked into the Carter County Detention Center on charges of attempted murder, and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, after being arrested by officers with the Kentucky State Police. Last Wednesday afternoon (March 26) Nelson appeared before Circuit Court Judge Rebecca Phillips to be arraigned on those charges. Nelson entered a plea of not guilty to the charges of attempted murder of a police officer – an enhancement that didn’t appear on his initial arrest report, as well as the charge of convicted felon in possession of a handgun. Phillips ordered a public defender to be appointed and scheduled the case for pretrial conference in late April.
Harlee Estepp, 28, of Grayson, was arrested by Kentucky State Police on the evening of March 19, “following an investigation into inappropriate communications with a minor,” according to a KSP release on the arrest. Estepp, who had been under investigation since 2022 according to the KSP release, was working as a varsity boys and girls track and field coach at Paul Blazer High School in Ashland at the time of his arrest. The activities under investigation, however, do not appear to be related to his duties at Paul Blazer.
Estepp’s attorney entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf to charges including two counts of first degree sexual abuse, and one count of procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means. Phillips denied a request for a reduction of Bond, which is currently set at $50,000.00, noting the serious nature of the charge. Phillips set Estepp’s pretrial conference for late April as well.
Phillips also arraigned Shannon Lowe, 52, of Olive Hill, who entered a plea of not guilty to charges of knowing abuse or neglect of an adult and intimidating a participant in a legal process, with bond modification to be discussed; Ryan McBride, 26, of Grayson, who entered a plea of not guilty to charges of first degree rape, and first degree strangulation; and Kyle Ryan Skaggs, 26, of Grayson, who entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of first degree sexual abuse of a victim under 12 years of age. Lowe, McBride, and Skaggs all had public defenders assigned to their cases.
Spencer Burnett, who is charged with vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol, indicated his intent to hire a private attorney. That attorney, however, was not available at the time of Burnett’s initially scheduled arraignment. Phillips scheduled another arraignment for the afternoon of April 7.
Also arraigned were Daniel Perez, on charges related to DUI, reckless driving, and wanton endangerment; Clint Caudill, flagrant non-support; Jeffrey Adams, theft by failure to make required disposition of property; and Austin Kilgore, burglary, convicted felon in possession of a handgun, and persistent felony offender.
Arraigned on drug related charges were David Richards, possession of methamphetamine; Thomas Boggs, Debra Breech, Michael Flannery, and Teresa Johnson, each on a charge of conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance; Anthony Jordan, on possession of methamphetamine and operating on a suspended or revoked operator’s license; Jeffrey Ratliff, on charges of trafficking in methamphetamine, operating a motor vehicle under the influence, and other motor vehicle violations; Jeffrey Adams, trafficking in methamphetamine, convicted felon in possession of a handgun, and possession of drug paraphernalia; and Christopher Woods, on charges of possession of methamphetamine, public intoxication, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
