By RONNIE ELLIS and LISA SIMPSON STRANGE
MUNFORDVILLE — Former state representative and one-time gubernatorial candidate Steve Nunn appeared in Hart County Circuit Court in Munfordville on Tuesday morning for arraignment on six counts of first-degree wanton endangerment involving law enforcement officers.
The charges arise from an incident that occurred in the Cosby United Methodist Church Cemetery in rural Hart County on Sept. 11 of this year, when Nunn, 57, discharged a gun while Kentucky State troopers and Barren County Sheriff’s deputies were nearby. Nunn was taken into custody near the graves of his parents, former Gov. Louie B. Nunn and Beula Nunn, shortly after the shooting and transported to The Medical Center in Bowling Green for the treatment of self-inflicted cuts to his wrists. He was later arrested on the wanton endangerment charges and lodged in the Hart County Jail for a short time before being transferred to Fayette County to face additional charges.
The one-time legislator has also been indicted for murder in Fayette County for the shooting death of his former fiancee, Amanda Ross, 29, in the early morning hours of Sept. 11 outside her townhouse in Lexington. Nunn was indicted for murder on Nov. 10 by a Fayette County grand jury.
Because Ross had received an emergency protective/domestic violence order against Nunn he could face the death penalty if convicted in Fayette County.
Nunn entered the courtroom Tuesday morning, unshaven, in a green jumpsuit and sandals and wearing ankle chains. He said nothing on his own behalf.
Nunn and his attorney, Warren Scoville of London, appeared before Circuit Judge Charles Simms to answer the charges.
“We waive formal arraignment and enter a plea of not guilty,” Scoville told the judge.
Simms set the case for trial on June 14, 2010, with a pretrial hearing scheduled for June 4, 2010.
After the arraignment, Nunn and Scoville retired to a room off the courtroom to meet privately.
Nunn could receive up to 20 years in prison on the Hart County charges.
