Williamsburg men deny Christmas motel robbery

Two Williamsburg residents pleaded not guilty Monday morning for their alleged role in the robbery of a man at a local motel on Christmas, and Williamsburg police are still looking for other suspects in connection with the case.

Williamsburg Police Detective Bobby Freeman took out identical arrest warrants against the two on Dec. 29.

“The defendant along with six other individuals planned and carried out the offense of robbery first degree when they forced their way into a motel room at the Scottish Inn located in Williamsburg,” the warrant stated.

“The defendant along with six others assaulted the victim and forcibly took approximately $400 cash, a cell phone and an underdetermined amount of drugs.”

Freeman arrested Dustin Faulkner, 29, about 10:57 a.m. on Dec. 30, and Nikki N. Lemmins, 21, at 11:24 a.m. on Dec. 31, and charged both with complicity to commit first-degree robbery.

They were arrested without incident and lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

Williamsburg Public Affairs Officer Shawn Jackson said the robbery happened during the wee morning hours Christmas day, and the male victim told police that the perpetrators were all wearing ski masks, but that he recognized one of their voices.

Jackson said Lemmins was in the room with the victim, but police later determined that she was allegedly involved with the planning of the crime.

“Through the investigation, we determined that she was behind the robbery also and was a part of it. It was kind of a set up deal,” he noted.

“They basically staged it to make it look like she was taken against her will, but through the investigation Detective Freeman determined that she was as big a part of it as the male subjects that entered the room that night.”

Jackson said the victim didn’t require medical treatment after the incident, and that the case is still being investigated.

Jackson said authorities haven’t determined whether the victim had obtained the prescription drugs legally or illegally.

“Regardless of how the circumstances came about, the subjects still came in and committed the offense of robbery,” Jackson added.

He said prescription pain pills are a major problem in the area.

“Most of the problems we see in this area right now fall back to prescription narcotics,” Jackson said. “People are getting so hooked on this stuff, they are going out to steal whatever they have to steal to take to the pawn shop to get money so they can go buy their dope.

“Prescription narcotics are causing a lot of grief in this county. We’ve seen killings because of it. We have seen thefts. We have seen robberies. We have seen burglaries. It is something that is a severe problem. All we can do is try and put a dent in it.”

Court officials said that although some court documents showed the initial bond amount at $1,500 cash each, the amount was a typographical error and that the duo’s initial was bond was actually $15,000 cash.
When Faulkner asked to have his bond reduced during Monday’s hearing, Price reconsidered it and raised it to $25,000 cash.

“I don’t know why it was so low to begin with,” Price told him.
Price did agree to amend Lemmins bond from $15,000 cash to a fully secured $25,000 bond. This means that she could be released after posting $25,000 cash, $50,000 worth of property or a combination of the two.

“I’ve never been in trouble. I don’t know why I am here,” she told Price during the hearing.
Price ordered Lemmins to be placed on home incarceration if she is released, and scheduled Jan. 12 preliminary hearings for both Faulkner and Lemmins.
Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird and Officer Mike Taylor assisted with the investigation.