Kentucky News Right Now – October 17th

FORCED SELF-REPRESENTATION

Defendant may be forced to represent self in case

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky man charged with murder may be forced to represent himself because he has repeatedly fired or threatened his attorneys during the five years his case has been pending.

Jefferson County Circuit Judge McKay Chauvin says there's no precedent for requiring Percy Brown to handle his own case. But, Chauvin says its tough finding an attorney for Brown because of his refusal to cooperate with some and threats against others.

Attorney Matt Farra — who represents Brown on the issue of whether he will be given an attorney for trial — told WDRB-TV that taking away Brown's right to an attorney would almost assuredly lead to a reversal of the case on appeal.

Brown was charged in 2008 with a 2004 shooting that killed 19-year-old Jennifer Nicole French.

INFORMANT DEATH

Ky. high court set to hear case of informant death

The Kentucky Supreme Court is set to hear an appeal lawsuit brought by the family of a man who was killed while serving as an informant for the Kentucky State Police.

The high court on Thursday will hear arguments from the family of LeBron Gaither, who died in July 1996 during a controlled drug buy on a drive between Taylorsville and Casey County.

The Kentucky Board of Claims awarded Gaither's family $168,000. The board concluded that after exposing Gaither in the public hallways of two courthouses and giving his name to grand jurors, detectives should not have used him again for drug buys.

A Franklin County Circuit Court judge overturned that decision in 2011. The Kentucky Court of Appeals in May 2012 also rejected the award.

PAWN SHOP SHOOTINGS

Pastor charged in shootings pleads not guilty

DANVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A pastor charged with shooting and killing three people at a Danville pawn shop has pleaded not guilty.

Kenneth Keith Allen, 48, of Burnside entered the plea Wednesday morning in Boyle District Court. Keith is charged with shooting the owners of ABC Gold Games and More, 35-year-old Michael Hockensmith and his wife, 38-year-old Angela Hockensmith, and a gold broker, 60-year-old Daniel Smith of Richmond.

All three were killed inside the shop on Sept. 20.

Police say Keith was upset with the Hockensmiths and accused them of hurting him financially.

Keith's attorneys say police have charged the wrong man in the shootings.

E COLI CASES LINKED

Officials: 3 E. coli cases in linked to orchard

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Louisville health officials say three cases of E. coli in the Louisville area have been linked and testing traced the bacteria to an Indiana farm.

WAVE-TV and WLKY-TV in Louisville reported that the Metro Department of Health and Wellness used genetic fingerprinting to trace the strains of bacteria infecting two Louisville residents and one Indiana resident.

Metro Health spokesman Dave Langdon says the three people who contracted E. coli visited Huber's Orchard and Winery between September 20 to September 28. He would not confirm which part of the orchard and winery were visited by those who were infected with E. coli.

The Indiana State Department of Health and the Indiana Board of Animal Health have taken over the investigation.

Langdon said Huber's Orchard owners are cooperating.

MEGA MILLIONS CHANGES

Ky Lottery announces changes to Mega Millions

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Lottery players who take part in the Mega Millions drawings will soon see changes in the game.

Kentucky Lottery officials say starting Oct. 22, minimum jackpots will increase from $12 million to $15 million and jackpots will grow at least $5 million after each drawing where the jackpot isn't won.

Mega Millions drawings will still consist of five white balls and one Mega Ball, for a total of six winning numbers. Under a new matrix, the number of white balls will increase to 75 and the number of Mega Balls will decrease to 15. The result will be overall odds of just 1 in 15 to win any prize.

Kentucky Lottery CEO Arch Gleason says the expected increase in players should boost the jackpots more quickly.