Nunn indicted on wanton endangerment charges in Hart County

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November 5, 2009

RONNIE ELLIS The Glasgow Daily Times Thu Nov 05, 2009, 04:39 PM CST

FRANKFORT — A Hart County grand jury has indicted former legislator and gubernatorial candidate Steve Nunn on six charges of wanton endangerment stemming from events at a country cemetery where he was arrested hours after the shooting death of his former fiancé.

Nunn, 57, is lodged in the Fayette County jail where he’s been charged with the death of Amanda Ross, 29, his one-time fiancée who had accused Nunn of domestic abuse. He has not yet been indicted on the murder charges.

A Fayette District judge placed Nunn under an emergency protective order/domestic violence order last spring after Ross alleged he hit her in the face. On Sept. 11, Ross was found shot in the parking lot of her Lexington townhouse around 6:30 a.m. and was pronounced dead a short time later.

Authorities began searching for Nunn, who was found a few hours later in the Cosby Cemetery in rural Hart County where his parents, former Gov. Louie B. Nunn and Beula Nunn, are buried. His wrists were cut and he allegedly discharged a gun as police officers approached. He was taken to the Bowling Green Medical Center and the following Monday transferred to the Hart County jail on the wanton endangerment charges. He was later charged with Ross’ death and taken to Lexington.

Hart County Commonwealth Attorney Terry Geoghegan said the indictment results were “from the events that occurred at Cosby Cemetery” and Nunn is scheduled for arraignment in Hart County Circuit Court on Nov. 17 at 9 a.m.

Hart County does not have the technological capability for video arraignments, Geoghegan said, “so at this point (Nunn) is scheduled to appear in Hart County for arraignment.”

Nunn has not yet been indicted in Fayette County. The grand jury has 60 days to act once it receives charges, according to Fayette Commonwealth Attorney Ray Larson. Nunn waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Sept. 25, at which time the case was sent to the grand jury.

Nunn’s attorney, Warren Scoville of London, did not return messages left with his law firm’s receptionist and on his voice mail Thursday afternoon. The receptionist said Scoville was out of the office for a mediation hearing.

Scoville entered the case on Oct. 21 when he entered a notice of appearance in Fayette County, replacing Nunn’s previous attorney, Astrida Lemkins. Lemkins, however, apparently remains the attorney of record in Hart County.

When contacted Thursday about the Hart County indictment, Lemkins declined to comment except to say, as far as she knows, she remains attorney of record in Hart County. She previously said Scoville removed her from the Fayette County case after she sought to bring him on board as co-counsel and has said she’s considering litigation against Scoville.

Geoghegan said he isn’t certain who will represent Nunn in Hart County.

“We understand that Mr. Scoville may be planning to enter his notice of entry as attorney of record,” Geoghegan said.

He said Nunn must, at some point, answer the indictment, regardless of any subsequent charges against him in Fayette County. Nunn could be indicted in Fayette County as soon as next Monday or Tuesday when the Fayette County grand jury next meets.

“If he is charged in other jurisdictions,” Geoghegan said, “I would expect that just like in any other case, there would be some coordination between jurisdictions. The commonwealth attorneys would cooperate on which case should go forward first.”

RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.

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