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Joe P. Asher

Staff Writer

A seven-year prison sentence was handed down against a Dayhoit man in Harlan Circuit Court on Thursday.

Roger W. Phillips, 40, was sentenced on charges including robbery and theft by unlawful taking.

Phillips stood in front of Special Judge James Bowling to face sentencing on charges contained in three separate indictments. Phillips, through his attorney Laura Karem, entered guilty pleas on a total of four counts, with one count of persistent felony offender being dismissed.

According to the robbery indictment, Phillips, armed with a knife, used or threatened to use physical force against Jeremy Thomspon during a theft attempt. The incident resulted in Phillips entering a guilty plea to an amended charge of second-degree robbery.

Phillips also entered guilty pleas on charges of theft by unlawful taking, second-degree criminal trespassing and second-degree trafficking a controlled substance.

Bowling sentenced Phillips to seven years on the robbery conviction, five years on the trafficking count, five years for the theft count and 90 days on the trespassing charge. All convictions are to run concurrently for a total of seven years in prison.

After being sentenced, Phillips hugged his wife and another family member before leaving the courtroom in custody.

In other court activity:

* Randy Adkins, 27, of Bledsoe, was granted three years diversion probation on a recommended five year sentence on an amended charge of criminal abuse. In addition Adkins was ordered to register for anger management classes;

* Vanessa Cox, 44, of Kenvir, was sentenced on a charge of wanton endangerment to five years in prison on the state’s recommendation. Cox was granted probation for three years, with the first year to be served in the Hope Center, the second year being supervised probation and the third year being unsupervised;

* Jennifer Lewis, 38, of Loyall, was sentenced on a charge of first-degree wanton endangerment to one year in prison on the state’s recommendation. Lewis was placed on probation for five years with the requirement she attend Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for three years;

* Ricky Hardy, 42, of Harlan, was sentenced to two years in prison on a charge of first-degree trafficking a controlled substance. Hardy was credited with time served and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $120;

* Kevin Woolford, 30, of Pikeville, was sentenced to serve a total of 30 days on charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia;

* Jerry Ball, 58, of Evarts, was sentenced to three years in prison for three counts of trafficking a controlled substance. Ball was also ordered to pay $330 in restitution;

* Jim Brock, 65, of Coldiron, was sentenced to two years in prison on three counts of first-degree trafficking a controlled substance. Brock was also ordered to pay a total of $490 in restitution.

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