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Joe P. Asher

Staff Writer

A Harlan County man entered a plea guilty on Tuesday to charges of burglary and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Judge James Bowling accepted the guilty plea of James Acelinger, 46, of Harlan, on two separate indictments. The burglary charge stemmed from the burglary of the Harlan Post Office.

According to previous reports, Harlan City Police had been searching for Acelinger since March 8 in connection with the burglary of the Harlan Post Office. He was located after being picked up by the Kentucky State Police on another charge.

Harlan Police Officer George Young filed a report at the time. According to Young’s report, Acelinger entered the Harlan Post Office on March 8 at approximately 3:30 p.m. and requested a change of address form. The postal clerk acquired the form for Acelinger and then moved on to other customers. When the clerk stepped around a corner to help another customer, Acelinger jumped over the counter, removed $850 in cash from the cash register and fled the scene.

Bowling advised Acelinger he did have certain rights.

“You understand you do not have to plead guilty,” Bowling explained.

“Yes,” Acelinger responded.

The state has recommended Acelinger be sentenced to a total of six years in prison and pay restitution. Bowling set the sentencing for Aug. 2 at 9 a.m.

In other court activity:

* Sarah E. Vaughn, 30, of Evarts, was sentenced on a charges of third-degree arson and theft by unlawful taking. According to the indictment, Vaughn committed arson, a Class D felony, by setting fire to a residence belonging to Jim Middleton on or about March 7, 2010. The indictment also states that on or about Jan. 30, 2010 Vaughn committed the Class D felony of theft by unlawful taking when she stole a 42 inch flat screen computer owned by Middleton.

Bowling sentenced Vaughn to three years on the arson charge and two years on the charge of theft by unlawful taking. Vaughn was granted five years supervised probation and order to pay restitution in the amount of $5,550.

* Monica Napier, 30, of Cawood, was sentenced on a charge of tampering with physical evidence to five years in prison.

* Theresa Hancock, 45, Bledsoe, was sentenced to three years in prison on a charge of trafficking in a controlled substance. Hancock was also order to pay restitution in the amount of $490.

* Christopher Robbins, 27, of Wallins, was sentenced on charges of burglary and theft by deception to one year in prison. Robbins was also ordered to pay $350 in restitution.

* Mary Jane Halcomb, 30, of Gulston, was sentenced to three years, probated for five years, supervised.

* Randy Hall, 40, of Cumberland, was sentenced on a charge of second-degree trafficking a controlled substance to three years in prison, probated for three years with the first year to be supervised. Hall was ordered to pay court costs of $130 and restitution in the amount of $285.

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