Published: March 24, 2008 10:35 pm      

Man charged in car wash shooting indicted again

CATLETTSBURG — A Flatwoods man already facing a felony charge in a February shooting incident at a Westwood car wash has been indicted again on three unrelated counts.

Boyd County grand jurors on Thursday indicted Jeremy L. Scappaticcio, 37, of the 900 block of Powell Lane, in connection with a March 5 incident in which he allegedly stole a car and fled from Ashland police in it.

Scappaticcio was charged with theft by unlawful taking over $300, first-degree criminal mischief, first-degree fleeing or evading police. All three charges are Class D felonies that carry prison sentences of one to five years.

Scappaticcio was indicted earlier this month on a charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery in connection with a Feb. 15 attempted robbery and shooting at the Aqua Jet Car Wash on Hoods Creek Pike. Authorities believe he drove the vehicle from which the alleged shooter, James Eric Estep, 18, of Ashland, emerged and opened fire on another man as he was attempting to flee.

Kimberly Sue Hill, 29, of Ironton, also was indicted on a charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery in the incident, which authorities have said was drug-related. A fourth defendant, Robert Dwain Halley, 40, of Ashland, was charged with evidence-tampering for allegedly removing items from the car driven by the shooting victim, Kenneth Hunt, 45, after Hunt’s female companion abandoned it on French Broad Street.

Hunt drove himself to King’s Daughters Medical Center following the shooting. From there, he was flown to St. Mary’s Medical Center.

A grand jury indictment is a formal accusation of a crime and does not establish guilt.

Others indicted Thursday were:

‰Manford R. Brumfield, 24, of the 2700 block of Fields Avenue, Flatwoods, charged with two counts of theft by unlawful taking over $300 for allegedly taking copper parts from air conditioners at Fairview High School and at a private residence in Westwood.

‰Trevor Dean Williams, 21, of the 2400 block of Monroe Street, Ashland, and Jimmie Ray Morris, 24, of the 8300 block of Carla Drive, Meads, both charged with first-degree assault for allegedly attacking another man in the parking lot of Caudill’s Market in Westwood on Jan. 4.

‰Gregory L. Fugate, 21, of the 800 block of Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, charged with one count of receiving stolen property over $300.

KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.