Yearly Archives: 2021

JOHN FITZGERALD JOHNSON aka “Grand Master Jay” INDICTED ON WANTON ENDANGERMENT CHARGES

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OFFICE OF THE COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
30th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
THOMAS B. WINE, COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY

Media Release: October 20, 2021

Attention: Assignment Editor
Acting Director of Communications: Erwin Roberts
Office: (502) 595-2300
E-mail: eroberts@louisvilleprosecutor.com

JOHN FITZGERALD JOHNSON aka “Grand Master Jay”
INDICTED ON WANTON ENDANGERMENT CHARGES
COMMONWEALTH VS. JOHN FITZGERALD JOHNSON
JEFFERSON CIRCUIT COURT CASE NO. 21CR2295

The Jefferson County Grand Jury returned an indictment against John Fitzgerald Johnson aka “Grand Master Jay” charging him with five counts of Wanton Endangerment First Degree in connection with his pointing his assault rifle at five law enforcement officers on September 4, 2020. This indictment includes charges for FOUR additional victims, who are local law enforcement officers and therefore were not victims included in Johnson’s federal indictment for conduct involving ONE federal law enforcement officers. Johnson faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison.

The case has been assigned to Division 2 of Jefferson Circuit Court. Johnson will be formally arraigned on Monday, October 25, 2021, at 9:00. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Josh Porter is the prosecutor. The indicted charges are allegations and Johnson is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Note: This article has been revised since its original release.

Guilty verdicts in 2019 Seneca golf course crash

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OFFICE OF THE COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
30th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
THOMAS B. WINE, COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY

Media Release: July 2, 2021

Attention: Assignment Editor
Director of Communications: Jeff Cooke
Office: (502) 595-2300 Ext. 3027
Cell / Text: (502) 262-5809
E-mail: jcooke@louisvilleprosecutor.com

Today a Jefferson County jury brought some measure of justice to the family of Mr. Christopher Schulz, who was killed on August 11, 2019 by a drunk driver, Lazaro Osmany Pozo Illas, and to Mr. Brian Hovekamp, who was severely injured in the same collision. Defendant Illas was driving at twice the legal speed limit with a blood alcohol level at twice the level of presumed intoxication when his automobile smashed into the golf cart occupied by Mr. Schulz and Mr. Hovekamp as the cart was in a cross walk. Schulz and Hovekamp were life-long friends who were enjoying a round of golf at the Seneca Golf Course at the time of the collision.

Following the verdict Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine stated:

Prosecutors Justin Janes and Corey Taylor, along with lead officer Mark Batson of the Louisville Metro Police Department, worked diligently for almost two years to prepare this case. The tragic death of Mr. Schulz, and the serious injuries to Mr. Hovekamp, could have been avoided had Illas simply driven the speed limit and not consumed excessive amounts of alcohol. It is especially disturbing that this terrible, avoidable tragedy occurred in a heavily traveled area used by golfers, bicyclists, walkers and other motorists.

The jury verdict of guilt and recommended sentence of 30 years (*see below for breakdown of sentences) on the charges of Murder, Assault in the First Degree, Wanton Endangerment in the First Degree, Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Operating a Motor Vehicle without and Operator’s License should be a reminder to all persons who drink and drive that these motor vehicle fatalities and injuries will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted, and the community, through the jury system, will impose serious sanctions.

As we prepare to the 4th of July festivities, we are reminded to drink responsibly and respect the speed limits on all roadways.

  • Murder – 20 years
  • Assault 1st – 10 years both sentences to consecutive with each other for a total of 30 years. Concurrent with the following sentences:
  • Wanton Endangerment 1 (2 counts) 1 year each count
  • Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Intoxicants – 30 days
  • Operating a Motor Vehicle with No Operator’s License – 90 days

Criminal trials resuming in Jefferson Circuit Court

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OFFICE OF THE COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
30th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
THOMAS B. WINE, COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY

Media Release: June 4, 2021

Attention: Assignment Editor
Director of Communications: Jeff Cooke
Office: (502) 595-2300 Ext. 3027
Cell / Text: (502) 262-5809
E-mail: jcooke@louisvilleprosecutor.com

As a result of declining COVD-19 infection rates statewide the Kentucky Supreme Court has allowed Kentucky courts to resume jury trials.  The Jefferson Circuit Courts and the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney have wasted no time in getting back to the people’s business.

Besides the trial of William K. Riggle, Sr. and William K. Riggle, Jr. in Division 11 of Jefferson Circuit Court which concluded yesterday with a jury recommending 75 and 150 year sentences, respectively, for a series of sexual assaults of minor female relatives, two other criminal cases were tried and concluded last week.

***

On Thursday May 27, 2021 a jury in Division 9 of Jefferson Circuit Court found Juan Chairez guilty of one count of Sodomy in the First Degree (a Class A felony) and four counts of Sexual Assault in the First Degree (Class C felonies). Following the verdict Chairez agreed to a penalty of twenty-five years in prison.

Chairez (DOB 7/20/73) had been charged with raping, sodomizing and sexually abusing his 10-year-old daughter (J.C.). In the winter of 2013, the defendant got into his bed where J.C. was sleeping.  He then proceeded to fondle her breasts, touch her vagina with his fingers, insert his fingers into her vagina, perform oral sex on her and penetrate her with his penis.  According to the defendant, who testified at trial, he was extremely drunk that night and mistakenly thought his young daughter was his girlfriend.  Defendant further claimed that all he did was kiss his daughter on the stomach before realizing it was her and telling her to leave.  Then in October 2013, defendant again got into bed with J.C. and touched her vagina with his fingers.  J.C. immediately got out of bed and slept on the couch.  The victim in this case did not disclose what had happened to her at the hands of her father until May 2014.  Aside from her disclosure at age 11, there was not any physical, medical or forensic evidence in this case to corroborate the events that transpired.  

Chairez’ formal sentencing is scheduled for July 29, 2021 at 9:15 a.m.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Marit DeLozier and Shannon Tubbs were the prosecutors.

***

In another trail concluding on Thursday May 27, 2021, a jury in Division 3 of Jefferson Circuit Court found Byron Shea Seymour guilty of Rape in the First Degree.  During the penalty phase of the trial the jury found that Seymour was a Persistent Felony offender in the Second Degree, recommended a ten year sentence on the rape charge and enhanced the penalty to twenty years as a result of finding him a persistent felon.

Seymour (DOB 11/11/1978) had been charged with the rape of a 52-year-old female (T.J.).  On January 18, 2019, the defendant armed himself with a kitchen knife while inside of T.J.’s home, threatened to stab her multiple times, and forced sexual intercourse on her. T.J. was able to escape after her daughter burst into the room and confronted the defendant as the offense was occurring. T.J. ran out of her apartment building while naked from the waist down and yelled for help, causing multiple witnesses to contact 911. The defendant fled the apartment through the back door, but was arrested the following day by Detectives Lisa Livers and Lindsay Lynch of LMPD’s Special Victims Unit. During a Mirandized police interview, the defendant denied sexual intercourse with T.J..  In addition to victim and witness statements, the Sexual Assault Forensic Exam and DNA evidence confirmed that forcible sexual intercourse occurred.

Seymour’s formal sentencing is scheduled for July 20, 2021 at 1:00 p.m.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Milja Zgonjanin and Corey Taylor were the prosecutors.

Father and son convicted of sexual assaults on three minor female relatives left in their care

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OFFICE OF THE COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
30th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
THOMAS B. WINE, COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY

Media Release: June 3, 2021

Attention: Assignment Editor
Director of Communications: Jeff Cooke
Office: (502) 595-2300 Ext. 3027
Cell / Text: (502) 262-5809
E-mail: jcooke@louisvilleprosecutor.com

In a criminal trial concluded today in Division 11 of Jefferson Circuit Court a jury recommended that William K. Riggle, Sr. serve 75 years in prison and his son, William K. Riggle, Jr., serve 150 years in prison for a series of sexual assaults against three minor females who had been in their care. Yesterday, the jury convicted Riggle, Sr. on three counts of Sodomy in the First Degree, eight counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and three counts of Intimidating a Participant in the Legal Process and Riggle, Jr. of five counts of Sodomy in the First Degree, one count of Rape in the First Degree, seven counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, one count of Intimidating a Participant in the Legal Process and one count of Use of a Minor in a Sexual Performance.

The minor females were nieces of Riggle, Sr. and cousins of Riggle, Jr. and had lived in the home of Riggle, Sr. between 2009 and 2017. Once the children were returned to the custody of their mother in 2017 they began disclosing to her the sexual and physical abuse they experienced at the hands of the two Riggles. Their mother took children to Norton’s Children Hospital for examinations for sexual abuse and later to the Family and Children’s Place for forensic interviews. In their interviews the children graphically detailed a variety of sexual acts which they were forced to perform by the Riggles. At least one of the sexual acts was recorded by Riggle, Jr.

Formal sentencing for both Riggles is scheduled for August 9, 2021 at 9:15 a.m.

The case was investigated by Detective Stacey Roby in the LMPD Crimes Against Children Unit.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Danielle Yannelli and Chris Foster were the prosecutors.