Published: October 21, 2009 06:57 am      

Nunn retains Warren Scoville as defense attorney

FRANKFORT — Steve Nunn, the former legislator and one-time gubernatorial candidate charged in the shooting death of his former fiancé, has retained a new defense attorney.

Warren Scoville, a longtime friend of the Nunn family from London, confirmed Tuesday he has been “retained by the Nunn family.”

“I have been retained to assemble a defense team for Mr. Steve Nunn,” Scoville said by telephone from his London office. “I will be entering a notice of appearance in court Wednesday.”

Scoville said Astrida Lemkins, the attorney who has represented Nunn since he was charged with the murder of 29-year-old Amanda Ross, will no longer be part of Nunn’s defense team. Lemkins did not return a message left with the receptionist at her office seeking comment.

Lemkins had never tried a capital offense case, something Scoville has done.

Last Friday, a deed was entered in the Barren County Clerk’s office transferring ownership of Nunn’s house and lot in Country Club Estates in Glasgow to The Scoville Firm, LLC. The property is valued at $200,000.

“I am being paid by a transfer of his property in Glasgow to my law firm,” Scoville said. “I have been hired by the family and that is the way I’m being paid.”

Ross was found shot outside her Lexington townhouse early on the morning of Sept. 11. She was pronounced dead a short time later at the University of Kentucky Hospital. A few hours later, Nunn as found with his wrists cut in the Hart County cemetery where his parents, former Gov. Louie B. Nunn and his wife, Beula, are buried.

After receiving treatment for his wounds at the Bowling Green Medical Center, Nunn was charged with six counts of wanton endangerment for allegedly brandishing a gun at officers at the cemetery and lodged in the Hart County Jail. He later was charged with Ross’ death and transferred to Lexington.

A clerk in the Circuit Court Clerk’s office Tuesday declined to say if Nunn had been indicted Tuesday, saying any announcement about Tuesday’s indictments would be made Wednesday. The Fayette County grand jury has 60 days to act on the charge after Nunn waived a preliminary hearing in Fayette District Court on Sept. 24.

Earlier this year, Nunn was placed under a domestic violence order after Ross accused him of hitting her in the face during an altercation in her home. Because he was under a DVO at the time of the alleged shooting, Nunn could face the death penalty.

Scoville had little to say about the case other than to confirm he has been retained to represent Nunn who served in the General Assembly for 15 years and ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2003.

“I intend to put together the best defense team I can for Mr. Nunn,” Scoville said. He declined to comment further, saying he does not “try cases in the press.”

Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. The Richmond Register is a CNHI newspaper.