Published: November 16, 2009 11:43 pm      

Boyd grand jury indicts 36

3 face robbery charges in purse snatching

Catlettsburg — Three suspects in a September purse-snatching incident were among 35 indicted Friday during a busy Boyd County grand jury session.

Tasha Alley, 31, of Huntington, and Amanda D. Moore, 21, and James B. McGough, 19, both of Ashland, were indicted on one count each of second-degree robbery. The charge is a Class C felony that carries a prison sentence of five to 10 years.

The three were charged in a Sept. 7 incident at the Rite Aid store on Blackburn Avenue. According to the Ashland Police Department, a 68-year-old woman was leaving the store when she was mugged and had her purse stolen.

The woman’s assailant got into a waiting vehicle occupied by two accomplices, the APD said. A citizen who witnessed the attacked tried to intervene and was briefly dragged by the suspects’ vehicle.

Two other witnesses saw what was happening and tried to stop the vehicle. Another witness followed the suspects, obtained information about their vehicle and reported it to authorities.

A short time later, a Boyd County sheriff’s deputy found the suspects’ vehicle on Clements Drive. While officers were canvassing the neighborhood, Alley called to report her car stolen. It turned out to the one used in the robbery.

All three of the suspects were eventually found and confessed to being involved in the crime, the APD said.

Grand jurors also indicted a woman and her boyfriend who were arrested last month for allegedly abusing the woman’s 4-year-old son.

Julie L. Fitzpatrick, 22, and Brent C. Patton, 23, both of Ashland, both were indicted on a single count of first-degree criminal abuse involving a child younger than 12. That charge also is a Class C felony that carries a five- to 10-year prison sentence.

Fitzpatrick and Patton were arrested Oct. 31 as a result of injuries suffered by Fitzpatrick’s son. The boy was taken to King’s Daughters Medical Center for treatment, the APD said.

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

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