Joe P. Asher

Staff Writer

Two Harlan County residents were arrested on charges of third degree rape on Wednesday.

Steven D. Hewitt, 20, of Evarts and Erica D. Pennington, 20 of Totz were taken into custody by Kentucky State Police Trooper Joey Brigman on Wednesday evening. Hewitt was arrested at 9:07 p.m. and Pennington one hour later at 10:07 p.m.

According to the citation, Hewitt allegedly had sexual intercourse with a 14 year old juvenile. The citation states Hewitt allegedly claimed the juvenile victim and Pennington had been pressuring him to have sex with the two of them “for about three days.” Hewitt’s citation also alleges Hewitt knew the victim was 14 years old.

Hewitt and Pennington were both arraigned in Harlan District Court on Thursday, where they pleaded not guilty. A preliminary hearing was set for them on July 16.

The couple are still in custody at the Harlan County Detention Center with bonds set at $20,000 full cash.

In other police action:

* Johnny Austin Jenkins, 23, of Cumberland was arrested by Kentucky State Police on charges of receiving stolen property and obscuring the identity of a machine;

* Brian Allen Dettmer, 24, of Cumberland was arrested on July 10 by Kentucky State Police on charges of receiving stolen property and obscuring the identity of a machine;

* Richard Fuller, 24, of Hiram was arrested on July 10 by Kentucky State Police on charges of receiving stolen property and obscuring the identity of a machine;

*Davon J. Polly, 20, of Cumberland was arrested by the Cumberland Police Department on July 12 on charges of trafficking a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence, public intoxication/controlled substance excluding alcohol and prescription of a controlled substance not in original container.

Reach Joe P. Asher at 606-573-4510 or jasher@heartlandpublications.com