Local News
Related Photos
-
Photo submitted
Woman changes plea, admits robbing Plaza Drug
Despite a question about whether she had a gun at the time, Shasta Vaughn, pleaded guilty to robbing Plaza Drug in exchange for a 10-year prison sentence.
Vaughn, 20, was scheduled to go to trial Wednesday in Laurel Circuit Court on one count of first-degree robbery. Minutes after she sat down at the defense table, she broke into tears and whispered to her attorney, Warren Scoville. Scoville then requested the court re-arraign Vaughn so she could plead guilty.
Laurel Circuit Court Judge John Knox Mills told the members of the jury pool their services would not be needed, but assured them their time in court had not been wasted.
“Sometimes, your very presence helps the parties come to a resolution,” Mills said.
Vaughn is scheduled to be formally sentenced May 15. She will receive the minimum sentence allowed under Kentucky law, 10 years. Commonwealth’s Attorney Jackie Steele said she must serve 85 percent of that, meaning she will be in prison for 8 1/2 years before she will be eligible for parole. Vaughn will remain in custody pending formal sentencing.
Kentucky State Police Detective Mark Allen said about 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 5, a woman, later identified as Vaughn, came into the store and walked up to the counter. The employees said while they were waiting on the woman, she pulled a gun from her waistband and demanded drugs. About 1 a.m. on Sept. 6, Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Vaughn.
“The employees told us she had a gun, but we never did find one,” Allen said. “According to Miss Vaughn, she didn’t have a gun.”
Scoville said there is no gun among the evidence.
“That is not in any of the discovery,” Scoville said.
As part of the plea agreement, the commonwealth agreed to dismiss an unrelated case against Vaughn in which she was accused of forging checks.
Staff writer Dean Manning may be reached at dmanning@sentinel-echo.com.
- Local News
-
-
‘A plaza of justice’
Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John D. Minton describes Laurel County’s new judicial center as “a perfect addition to downtown London.”
-
As metal prices go up, so do thefts
Every few weeks for the past four months, property has disappeared from Robert Westerfield’s land. The thefts happen in broad daylight and, each time, different vehicles with different drivers show up to openly steal the items. When it happens, whether it’s an antique wood burning stove, an air compressor or an old welder that goes missing, Westerfield gets angry.
-
Looking for a bargain?
Promising bargains and kitsch, the East Ky. 80 yard sale kicked off Thursday, an event that is expected to snake along the highway for a whopping 26 miles.
-
Man arrested for peeping into teen girl’s window
After being caught reportedly peeping in the windows of a Ninth Street home, a London man was charged with voyeurism Sunday and taken to jail.
-
It's empty. Now what?
“What happened in Corbin will not happen in London” is the message Saint Joseph-London administrators want to make clear about the state of the now-vacant hospital on the hill.
-
New sign advertises vets’ parade
Thousands of people will now get the news about London’s Welcome Home parade and celebration for Vietnam veterans as they drive by on Interstate 75.
-
Man injured by boat propeller
A Berea fisherman is in stable condition after his legs were mangled by his boat propeller Thursday on Laurel River Lake.
-
Court approves property tax rates
Laurel County Fiscal Court voted Thursday to leave tax rates just the way they are.
-
Group seeks to improve lifestyle habits
With officials becoming increasingly concerned about the area’s health, a group of stakeholders has formed a new committee, “Creating a Healthier Laurel County.”
-
Tobacco time
Under the bright sun, Kevin Cornett slowly drove his tractor Wednesday as a line of tobacco plants marched over his head. Beside him, his brother Brent drove a tractor pulling a trailer on which the yellow-green plants collected.
- More Local News Headlines
-
