Published: June 20, 2009 10:58 pm      

Jewelry thief pleads guilty to three charges

(Editor’s note: The following story contains graphic information that some readers may find offensive.)

A woman accused of taking jewelry from two Richmond jewelry stores pleaded guilty Friday to three counts of felony theft by unlawful taking.

Sally Embry, 21, admitted to stealing two gold chains from The Castle on two occasions and a 3/4 carat diamond ring from Samuels Jewelers in February as part of her plea. The ring was valued at more than $2,300, while the chains were valued at $1,700.

Police originally had included a charge of tampering with physical evidence after a March 1 traffic stop where Embry allegedly ate a pawn receipt showing she had pawned the jewelry, but that charge was dismissed as a result of the agreement.

As part of the agreement, Embry was sentenced to one year in prison on each of the charges, but will serve a maximum of two years in prison, said Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Moriah Greer.

French case continued

Madison Circuit Judge William G. Clouse granted a request to continue to September the case of a Berea man charged with murder.

Elmer Ray French, 71, is now scheduled to reappear in court Sept. 3 for a pretrial conference on charges of murder and driving under the influence in the December 2008 death of Jason Isaacs following a traffic accident in Berea.

French also is a defendant in two civil suits filed by Isaacs’ widow, Sandra. One suit seeks damages for wrongful death, while the second suit asks the court to overturn transfers of property from French to a recently-formed corporation, French Family Trust LLC.

Sandra Isaacs alleges French transferred the property to protect assets from a potential judgment in the wrongful death suit, according to court filings.

Hill trial set

A Sept. 7 trial date is scheduled for a Port Royal Drive resident charged with three counts of first-degree sexual abuse.

Gerald Wayne Hill, 38, is accused of masturbating three times in front of a 6-year-old child between September and November 2008.

The trial is scheduled to last two days. A status conference is scheduled for August.

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