June 18, 2009 — A Kentucky State Police Detective testified in open court Thursday that one comment posted on Topix accused Carter County District Judge Rupert Wilhoit of selling drugs out of the justice center.
Kelly Hall, 31, appeared in front of Judge John Cox for an examining trial to determine if enough evidence was discovered to wave the case over to a grand jury.
Cox did find probable cause to have a grand jury investigate Hall and her alleged accomplice, 62-year-old David Justice, in connection to intimidating comments allegedly aimed toward Wilhoit.
During the examining trial, Detective Jim Goble said Commonwealth Attorney David Flatt contacted police about the remarks discovered June 5.
“They were under the heading “Grayson Pain Clinic,” Goble testified. “The comments did sound threatening, and that’s when I contacted our electronic crimes department to have the matter further investigated. The comments appeared as being blackmail. One said, “I have a friend coming in front of you (Wilhoit) in a couple of days.” Then another comment talked about an arson case coming in front of Wilhoit. We have not been able to determine if the comments meant that Judge Wilhoit needed to judge the friend accordingly, or if it was an actual threat of arson.”
Goble said one comment asked if Wilhoit was building a home in the Hitchins area. Wilhoit told police the home was that of a relative and not his.
“He (Wilhoit) became upset and very concerned about the comments,” Goble told the court. “He didn’t know if it was a threat to burn down his house.”
Police then notified Internet and landline provider Windstream to get the ISP (Internet Service Provider) and IP (Internet Protocol) addresses connected to the comments.
When Goble received the email address used along with the comments, he went to interview Hall and Justice at their separate apartments at the Shangri-La, next to Giovanni’s in Grayson.
“Hall said he had just gotten the lap top within the past two weeks and didn’t even know how to enter his name on any Web site, but only used it to look up horses and dogs,” Goble testified. “He told me that Hall had used the computer. We also made sure he didn’t’ have wireless Internet that would allow someone to piggyback off his connection. He didn’t have it.”
During the interview, Hall told Goble she was responsible for typing the comments on Topix.
“She said Justice directed her to do so,” Goble said. “I don’t’ think she knew just how serious this was. She gave me the confession outside the apartment building while in my police curser. She said she didn’t want her daughter to hear.”
Carter County Attorney Bob Miller asked Goble if he had recorded both statements from Hall and Justice. Goble answered, “yes.”
Goble returned to the Shangri-La the next day to interview Hall and Justice for a second time. Both Hall and Justice were then arrested.
During Thursday’s trial, Hall’s attorney Brandon West questioned Goble about the Topix comments.
“Was the statement about the drugs being sold out of the justice center just an intimidation toward the judge?” West asked. “It’s all seems out of the blue to me.”
Goble told West he believe the comment to be, “absurd.” “I can’t speak to their state of mind at the time the comments were posted. Hall did say they had been drinking,” he told West.
According to Cox, Justice was admitted to the hospital following his arrest. His condition was not discussed in court Thursday.
Local News
Topix comments case bound over to grand jury
- Local News
-
-
CCDC increases inmate services
The Carter County Detention Center has doubled its space for services such as GED test preparation, drug and alcohol counseling, voluntary religious services, anger management and attorney/client meeting space.
-
Fiscal Court approves refinancing of jail bonds
How to save money was the key discussion subject at a special meeting Tuesday of Carter County Fiscal Court. Judge-Executive Charles Wallace approached the Fiscal Court members with figures he claims will save the county nearly three quarters of a million dollars over 20 years.
-
Academics in Action: Be a reader, Be a leader
Giggles burst out of five third grade boys as they read “Superfudge” by Judy Blume. The boys are part of an after-school program designed by the West Carter High School Community Problem Solving Team to make reading fun. The program is called Be a reader, Be a leader.
-
York, Adkins to square off in 99th District
State Reps. Jill York, R-Grayson, and Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook, have filed candidacy papers to run for the House seat now held by Adkins in the 99th District.
-
Adkins is no stranger to Carter County
If the legislative redistricting bill survives a court challenge, Rep. Rocky Adkins says he will feel right at home being Carter County’s state representative. “Local officials, school people and lots of other citizens from Carter County have called or walked up in all kinds of places to welcome me,” Adkins said last week.
-
Magisterial redistricting in Circuit Court on Feb. 6
Carter Circuit Judge Rebecca Phillips will hear arguments next Monday at 1 p.m. in Mignon Colley’s lawsuit against Fiscal Court over its refusal to realign the county’s magisterial districts.
-
Carter County Public Library is thinking outside the books
More than just books. Nellie Jordan, director of the Carter County Public Libraries, said that thinking outside of the books is a key way to boost community interest and involvement in their libraries.
-
Winter Adventure Weekend a hit
Suspended by ropes in a treetop some 50 feet above the ground, Kendra Athy let out a small yelp. “I heard somebody say ‘Cut her down!’” she said.
-
Sheriff gears up with new weapons
Carter County sheriff’s deputies are better armed after last week’s purchase of six assault rifles. Deputies had been responding to emergency calls and serving warrants armed only with handguns which Sheriff Casey Brammell said was dangerous business.
-
York, Adkins to square off in 99th District
State Reps. Jill York, R-Grayson, and Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook, have filed candidacy papers to run for the House seat now held by Adkins in the 99th District.
York’s former 96th District seat was relocated to Fayette County.
The new 99th District consists of all of Carter and Elliott counties and parts of Boyd and Lawrence counties.
- More Local News Headlines
-
CCDC increases inmate services
