Security guard indicted for stalking, witness intimidation

A London man, who works at night as a security officer and has prior felony convictions for burglary and theft, was indicted by a Whitley County Grand Jury Monday morning for stalking, according to court documents.

The Whitley County Grand Jury indicted Luther Ray Greenwell, 44, for first-degree stalking, intimidating a participant in the legal process and for being a first-degree persistent felony offender, according to his indictment.

On Jan. 4, 2010, Greenwell allegedly made an explicit threat with the intent to place the victim in reasonable fear of serious physical injury or death, and a criminal complaint is currently pending in Laurel District Court against Greenwell, according to the indictment.

On Aug. 17, 2007, Greenwell was convicted of theft by unlawful taking over $300. On Sept. 24, 2007, he was convicted of third-degree burglary. Both convictions were in Laurel Circuit Court, according to his indictment.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Allen Trimble said that the charge in Laurel District Court involves the same victim in this case.

"We had the situation over here where he did the same thing only a little more pronounced, and it was investigated by police," Trimble said.

Greenwell would normally face one to five years in prison on the first-degree stalking and intimidating a participant in the legal process charges. Because of the first-degree persistent felony offender charge, each crime has an enhanced penalty of 10 to 20 years in prison, Trimble said.

Special Judge Roderick Messer set a $10,000 fully secured bond for Greenwell and ordered him to be placed on home incarceration after a request by the prosecutor.

"The problem we have is keeping him away from the complaining witness," Trimble told Messer. "I’m fearful Mr. Greenwell is motivated beyond his control."

Greenwell is required to stay at home unless he is visiting his lawyer, making a court appearance, going to the hospital or doctor, or working, according to Messer’s order.

Greenwell works for a tree trimming company during the day, and at night works as a security officer, according to the order.

The grand jury also indicted another London man Monday morning for allegedly kidnapping a woman in Whitley County.

The grand jury indicted Johnny R. Gregory, 40, with first-degree burglary, third-degree terroristic threatening, kidnapping, first-degree wanton endangerment, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and second-degree persistent felony offender.
On Oct. 27, Gregory allegedly unlawfully entered Karen Sergent’s residence and had a .32 caliber handgun in his possession, according to his indictment.

He allegedly threatened to shoot four people and pointed the loaded gun in their direction, and kidnapped Sergent with the intent of using her as a hostage in order to avoid being arrested, according to his indictment.

On May 27, 2008, Gregory was convicted of theft by unlawful taking over $300 in Laurel Circuit Court, according to his indictment.

Messer ordered that a bench warrant be issued for Gregory’s arrest, and set his bond at $250,000 cash.

According to its monthly report, the grand jury returned 18 other indictments against 19 people Monday, including:

¥ Jason Lee Barnett, 31, of Corbin – first-degree possession of a controlled substance.

¥ Joseph S. Bauer, 25, of Williamsburg – theft by unlawful taking over $500 but less than $10,000, first-degree criminal mischief, first-degree fleeing or evading police, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, operating a motor vehicle on a suspended license, and first-degree persistent felony offender.

¥ Dustin B. Williams, 18, of London – theft by unlawful taking over $500 but less than $10,000.

¥ Robert S. Sheppard, 34, of East Bernstadt – first-degree burglary, theft by unlawful taking, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana, second-degree persistent felony offender, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

¥ Aaron Caldwell, 24, of Siler, and Dallas Fuson, 19, of Calhoun, Ga. – second-degree burglary.

¥ Joseph Mowery, 18, of Williamsburg – cultivating marijuana over five plants.

¥ Eddie Baker, 47, of Corbin – two counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of property over $500 but less than $10,000.

¥ Gene Dewayne Turner, Norman Bill Turner, 22, and Troy Grubb, 26, of Corbin – theft by unlawful taking over $10,000, and third-degree burglary. The three men allegedly broke into Larry Rogers’ business on Nov. 4, 2008, and took $25,000 cash and $5,000 in checks.

¥ Dena B. Baird, 20, of Williamsburg – first-degree burglary, theft of a handgun, and theft by unlawful taking over $500 but less than $10,000.

¥ John J. Autenrieb, 29, of Corbin – theft by failure to make required disposition of property over $500 but less than $10,000.

¥ John J. Autenrieb, 29, of Williamsburg – theft by unlawful taking over $500 but less than $10,000. On June 22, he allegedly took a GPS monitoring device, ankle bracelet and charging stand that belonged to Emcon Home Inc., a company that does home incarceration for the courts.

¥ John J. Autenrieb, 29, of Corbin – second-degree fleeing or evading police and second-degree escape.

¥ Glenn Centers, 53, of Corbin – first-degree possession of a controlled substance, second-offense possession of drug paraphernalia, and first-degree persistent felony offender.

¥ Brittany Nicole Middleton, 22, of Williamsburg – theft by failure to make required disposition of property over $500 but less than $10,000.

¥ Bradley Michael Schulten, 24, of Corbin – first-degree robbery and theft by unlawful taking under $500.

¥ Leland D. Evans, 36 – second-degree burglary, theft by unlawful taking over $500 but less than $10,000, and third-degree criminal mischief.

¥ Leland D. Evans, 36 – second-degree burglary and theft by unlawful taking over $500 but less than $10,000.

¥ James Dean Simpson, 47, of Williamsburg – receiving stolen property over $10,000.