Chaney indicted on robbery, contraband

By Brian Smith
Register News Writer

May 16, 2009 08:40 pm

— A Madison County grand jury returned two indictments Thursday against a Richmond man accused of robbing a gas station and having a weapon inside the Madison County Detention Center.
Steven C. Chaney, 21, was indicted on first-degree robbery and possession of drug paraphernalia in one indictment, while in another indictment he was charged with first-degree promoting contraband.
A woman, Crystal Ashcraft, 29, also of Richmond, also was indicted on complicity to commit first-degree robbery and possession of drug paraphernalia in the same case.
The robbery charges stem from a Feb. 12 incident in which Chaney is alleged to have robbed the Moberly Shell gas station while Ashcraft waited in a getaway vehicle nearby.
Kentucky State Police arrested the duo later that morning at the Red Roof Inn on Bahama Court, where officers found money believed to be from the robbery and crack pipes.
Police tracked the duo to the motel after finding the getaway vehicle parked on Irvine View and learning a local cab company had picked up two individuals from the car and taken them to the motel.
Chaney was indicted on the contraband charge after a deputy jailer found Chaney on Feb. 22 with a homemade knife known as a “shank” while in the jail.
That case led to the March 4 appearance in Madison District Court where Chaney disarmed a bailiff and attempted to shoot him twice before fleeing as he was being taken back to the detention center.
A federal grand jury indicted Chaney on a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon for that incident.
If convicted, Chaney could receive 10 to 20 years in prison for the robbery charge, one to five years in prison for the contraband charge and 12 months in jail for the paraphernalia charge. The federal charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

‘Drug deal gone bad’
Two men were indicted on second-degree assault charges stemming from a December incident Richmond police referred to as a “drug deal gone bad.”
Keith A. Griffith, 26, and Aaron Brennan, 26, no addresses given, are charged in connection with the Dec. 4, 2008, attack on a cooperating witness during a drug buy.
The witness, who is identified by name in the indictment, was kicked and beaten before Griffith allegedly pistol-whipped him with a handgun, leading to the assault charge, according to the indictment.
Brennan is charged with complicity to commit second-degree assault because he “intentionally aid(ed) and abetted Keith Griffith to cause physical injury ...,” the indictment reads. He also is charged with being a persistent felony offender.
Both Griffith and Brennan are in federal custody on other charges. Griffith faces a federal charge of trafficking in crack cocaine, while Brennan is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
If convicted, Griffith could receive five to 10 years in prison for the assault charge. Brennan could receive five to 10 years in prison for the assault charge and 10 to 20 years in prison for the persistent felony offender charge.

Other indictments
• Candice Garrett, 37, of the 400 block of Michelle Court, Richmond, on three counts of criminal possession of a forged prescription and one count of being a persistent felony offender, second degree. If convicted, she could receive one to five years for each possession count and five to 10 years for the persistent felony offender charge. (RPD)
• David Murphy, 46, of the 3100 block of Poosey Ridge Road, Richmond, on one count of first degree trafficking in a controlled substance (oxycodone and methadone). If convicted, he could face five to 10 years in prison. (CKADTF)
• Keith McKinney, 29, of the 300 block of Main Street, Richmond, on one count of first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and a second-degree persistent felony offender charge. If convicted, he could receive one to five years in prison for the possession charge and five to 10 years in prison for the persistent felony offender charge. (RPD)
• Edward A. Stewart, 43, of McKee, on one count of first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). If convicted, he could receive one to five years in prison. (CKADTF)
• Ronald Perkins, 33, of Edgewater, Fla., on one count of flagrant non-support. If convicted, Perkins could receive one to five years in prison. (Child Support Office)
An indictment is a formal statement of charges and does not imply guilt.

Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.