Mother indicted on murder charges

By Carl Keith Greene / Staff Writer

The Laurel County grand jury has indicted Amanda Johnson, 21, of East Bernstadt.

Johnson was charged with murder in the Oct. 25 death of her 23-month-old son, Stephen Carl Troy.

Stephen was found unresponsive a the home of Johnson and her boyfriend on Ruby Jones Road about three miles north of East Bernstadt.

Kentucky State Police Detective Mark Allen investigated the incident and arrested Johnson at 8:40 a.m. the following Sunday.

Allen reported the child had apparently died from blunt force trauma to the abdomen.

He noted that her boyfriend, Will Callahan, had reported seeing Johnson throw the baby and punch it in the back.

An autopsy revealed that Stephen had died as the result of the rupture of arteries in his small intestine and internal bleeding.

She was also indicted on a charge of first-degree criminal abuse.

Also indicted was Loretta Lynn Tidwell, 43, of London, with eight counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument and two counts of theft by deception of items valued at less than $500.

Robert Taylor, 65, of Corbin, four counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument.

Chase Prilaman, 26, of Manchester, three counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument and one count of second-degree persistent felony offense (PFO).

Byron Baker, 28, of Corbin and Tawana Phelps (aka Bennett), 38, of London, theft by unlawful taking $500 to $10,000 value, and possessing meth precursors, and drug paraphernalia.

Christena Hacker, 29, and Michael Smith, 26, of London, theft by deception $500 to $10,000 value, theft by deception less than $500. Smith with second-degree PFO. Also in a second indictment, two counts theft by deception between $500 and $10,000, one count of theft by deception less than $500 and Smith, second-degree PFO.

Rebecca Roark, 37, of Corbin, theft of identity, giving police a false name, failure to use a child restraint and failure to produce a driver’s license.

Michael Cornett, 32, and Ray Cornett, 60, of London, M. Cornett, one count possessing a firearm by a convicted felon. Both with receiving a stolen firearm, receiving stolen property valued between $500 and $10,000, carrying concealed deadly weapons and M. Cornett as being a second degree PFO.

Marvin Wilkins, 59, of London, first-degree wanton endangerment, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and tampering with evidence.

Tommy Miller, 54, and Brandi Miller, 34, of London, B. Miller, four counts of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance, tampering with evidence and two counts of possessing a controlled substance. T. Miller, four counts of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance and one county of possessing a controlled substance.

Joshua Blackburn, 30, of London, two counts of second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

Kenneth Simpson, 46, of London, five counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, one first-degree, three second-degree and one third-degree, and one count of trafficking in marijuana.

Diana Allen, 30, of London, two counts first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

Tearle Sowders, 29, and Brittany Yaden, 22, of London, Sowders, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence, possessing meth precursors, carrying concealed deadly weapon and giving police a false name. Yaden, second-degree hindering prosecution and giving a false name. Sowders and Yaden possessing drug paraphernalia.

Floyd Dwayne Hampton, 40, and Jason Mark Lewis, 33, of London, making methamphetamine, first-degree possessing a controlled substance and Hampton second-degree PFO.

Little Murrell Scalf, 32, London and Mittie Freeman (aka Napier), 34, no address given, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possessing drug paraphernalia and Scalf first-degree PFO.

Ted Hamilton, 45, of London, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possessing marijuana, resisting arrest and public intoxication.

Arnold Coots, 45, of East Bernstadt, first- and second-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance in an improper container, reckless driving and driving under the influence.

Sherrie Combs (aka Miller), 41, of Barbourville and Crystal Doan, 36, of East Bernstadt, making meth and possessing meth precursors and Doan, second-degree PFO.

Derek Jervis, 31, and Randolph Sizemore, 36, of London, making meth, Jervis second-degree escape, third-degree assault, first-degree fleeing or evading police, second degree criminal mischief and second-degree PFO. Sizemore, second-degree PFO.

James Steele Jr., 40, Robin Barnes (aka Salisbury), Steele, 42, of London, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and Barnes, second-degree PFO.

Steven Rush, 39, of London, flagrant non-support.

And Edgar Daniels, 42, of London flagrant non-support.

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