Published: May 25, 2009 10:54 pm      

Woman charged with stealing

Former Rite Aid employee made off with $9,000

GREENUP — A former employee of the Flatwoods Rite Aid store has been charged with stealing nearly $9,000 from the establishment.

A Greenup County grand jury indicted Arbutus Renee Stevens, 34, of Flatwoods, on two counts of felony theft.

According to the indictment, Stevens allegedly took $3,022.02 belonging to her employer on Dec. 23 and $4,785.15 the following day.

One of Stevens’ duties was taking the store’s daily deposits to the bank. On those two days, the deposits never showed up, assistant Greenup Commonwealth’s Attorney Melvin Leonhart said.

The charges are Class D felonies, each carrying a one- to five-year prison sentence.

Grand jurors also indicted two Ohio men in connection with the armed robbery of a Russell check-cashing business.

James Robert Bailey, 28, of Coal Grove, was charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree persistent felony offender. Robert J. Jones, 34, of Franklin Furnace, was charged with facilitation to first-degree robbery.

Both men were indicted in a Dec. 29 holdup at Cash Express, 1415 Diederich Blvd. According to police, a man brandishing a handgun came into the store and demanded money, then fled with an undetermined amount of cash.

First-degree robbery is a Class B felony that carries a 10-to-20-year prison sentence. Facilitation is a Class D felony.

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

Other defendants named in true bills handed up recently by the grand jury were:

‰Jessica J. Miller, 22, of Raceland, charged with incest.

‰Pete Gonzalez, 41, of Ashland, charged with first-degree sexual abuse and second-degree persistent felony offender.

‰Ronald J. James, 49, of Chesapeake, charged with first-degree drug trafficking.

‰Timothy L. Potter, 31, of South Shore, charged with first-degree sexual abuse.

‰Roger Dale Prince, 35, of Flatwoods, charged with first-degree drug trafficking.

‰Connie Sue Reffitt, 35, of Flatwoods, charged with first-degree drug trafficking.

‰Joe Reffitt, 53, of Flatwoods, charged with first-degree drug trafficking.

‰Tommie Ray Reffitt, 37, of Flatwoods, charged with first-degree drug trafficking.

‰Rocky O. Risner, 62, of Flatwoods, charged with two counts of first-degree drug trafficking.

‰Angela Kay Sparks, 44, of Summit, charged with first-degree drug trafficking.

‰Tiffany F. Devore, 22, of Flatwoods, charged with first-degree bail-jumping.

‰Bradley Scott Dunlap, 33, of Ashland, charged with first-degree promoting contraband, public intoxication and first-degree persistent felony offender.

‰Joseph T. Askew, 34, of South Shore, charged with failure to comply with sex offender registration and second-degree fleeing or evading police.

‰Douglas R. Hall, 41, of Georgetown, Ohio, charge with two counts of identity theft.

‰Keith D. Stevenson, 30, of Sciotoville, charged with theft and with second-degree persistent felony offender.

‰Joseph Leslie Sizemore, 27, of Flatwoods, charged with theft.

‰Penny R. Banks, 35, of Greenup, charged with first- and third-degree drug trafficking, tampering with physical evidence, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

‰Ahley Renae Roe, 24, of South Shore, charged with second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument.

‰Joshua Seth Riley, 25, of Flatwoods, charged with receiving stolen property.

‰Melissa L. Patton, 48, of Greenup, charged with receiving stolen property.

‰Danny E. Patton, 27, of Greenup, charged with receiving stolen property.

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