Man indicted for fleeing from police

Brian Smith
Register News Writer

May 19, 2009 08:07 am

— A Waco man has been indicted on eight charges stemming from a Feb. 14 incident in which he allegedly threatened and imprisoned his girlfriend before fleeing from police multiple times, including while he was being tested for alcohol intoxication at Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center.
Stephen A. Hager, 25, of the 1200 block of Dodd Road, is charged with first-degree fleeing or evading police, first-degree unlawful imprisonment and second-degree escape, all Class D felonies, a Class C second-degree persistent felony offender charge as well as misdemeanor charges of third-degree terroristic threatening, operating a motor vehicle under the influence, resisting arrest and third-degree possession of a controlled substance.
According to Kentucky State Police, Hager broke into his girlfriend’s home following an argument, pinned her to the ground and threatened to shoot her between the eyes before fleeing in her car.
Hager then flipped the car multiple times after driving it into the woods, and had extremely slurred speech when taken into custody, the police report states.
Police took Hager to the hospital for treatment and a blood-alcohol test, but Hager escaped from the emergency room and fled down the Eastern Bypass, where he was found under the railroad bridge near the hospital and tased.
The possession of a controlled substance charge stems from a Valium pill that was found in Hager’s pocket during a search.
If convicted, Hager could receive up to five years in prison each on the unlawful imprisonment, fleeing and escape charges, five to 10 years in prison on the persistent felony offender charge, 12 months in jail for the threatening, resisting arrest and possession charges and up to six months for the driving under the influence charge.
Forged checks
A Keystone Drive resident was indicted on 22 counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and two counts of theft by deception for passing a number of bad checks.
Bryan Jason Robinson, 25, of the 100 block of Keystone Drive, is accused of passing 22 checks written on the account of another man, Sean Robinson, over a two-month period between July and August 2008, as well as writing several bad checks on his own account.
Most of the forged checks were passed at the Bybee Grocery Store, the indictment alleges, but others were passed at the Moberly Shell gas station.
Each of the 22 counts carries a penalty of one to five years in prison if convicted, as does one of the counts of theft by deception. The other theft by deception charge is a misdemeanor that carries a penalty of up to 12 months in jail if convicted.
Other indictments
• Ladonna Riddell, 28, of the 1900 block of Stacy Lane, Richmond, on first-degree possession of a controlled substance, third-degree possession of a controlled substance and theft by unlawful taking, less than $300. If convicted, she could receive up to five years in prison for the first-degree possession charge and up to 12 months in jail each on the third-degree possession charge and the theft charge. (RPD)
• Donnie Kindred, 29, of the 2600 block of Battlefield Memorial Highway, Berea, and Charles A. Noland, 31, of the 100 block of Twin Lakes Drive, Richmond, on one count each of theft by unlawful taking, more than $300. Kindred also was indicted on a first-degree persistent felony offender charge, while Noland also was indicted on a second-degree persistent felony offender charge and a misdemeanor charge of driving on a suspended license.
If convicted, Kindred could receive 10 to 20 years in prison, while Noland could receive five to 10 years in prison. (KSP)
• Casey Lewis, 22, of Irvine, on one count of theft by unlawful taking, more than $300. If convicted, she could receive one to five years in prison.
• Alexis J. Hembree, no age or address listed, on one count of first-degree bail jumping. If convicted, she could receive up to five years in prison. (Commonwealth’s Attorney)
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.