Ashland, Ky. man answers charges for assaulting taxi driver, vandalizing cab

Published 1:52 pm Thursday, March 1, 2012

By Michelle Goodman

The Tribune

 

An argument about cab fare that escalated to assault and vandalism brought an Ashland, Ky., man before a judge Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

According to Assistant Prosecuting attorney Mack Anderson, Cecil Gauze, 33, of 228 Meeks Drive, was unsatisfied with his cab fare and began arguing with the Sureway Cab Company driver. Gauze then allegedly ripped the cab’s radio from the dash and assaulted the driver.

Gauze pleaded not guilty to the bill of information through his attorney Warren Morford. Judge Charles Cooper continued a $5,000 cash or surety bond from a lower court and scheduled a pretrial for March 14.

In other cases:

• Paul Blevins, 37, of 1567 Cartro Road, Franklin Furnace, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for violating the conditions of his community-controlled sanctions.

Chief Probation Officer Carl Bowen II testified at Blevins’ CCS trial that Belvins had been on CCS in Lawrence County since November 2009 but hadn’t reported to adult probation since July 2011. Bowen said Blevins was required to report twice a month.

Bowen also said Blevins has stopped making payments to his court costs, which was a condition of his CCS.

Blevins was represented by attorney Warren Morford.

• Stephen Littlejohn, 31, of 17 Private Road 268, South Point, admitted to CCS violations through his attorney Warren Morford.

Cooper sentenced Littlejohn to six months in prison and to terminate the remainder of his CCS at the end of his prison sentence.

• Sandra Pinson Deacon, 37, of 106 11th St., Altizer, W.Va., admitted to CCS violations through her attorney Mike Davenport.

Cooper sentenced Deacon to six months in prison and to terminate the remainder of her CCS at the end of his prison sentence.

• Jimmy Jo Lambert, 24, of 283 Private Drive, County Road 25, Pedro, was arraigned on one count of fifth-degree failure to register. Lambert pleaded guilty though his attorney Mike Gleichauf.

Cooper sentenced Littlejohn to four years CCS with intensive supervised probation, giving him credit for time served.

• John Robinson, 32, of 2891 County Road 22, Ironton, was arraigned on a count of felony criminal non-support. He pleaded guilty though his attorney Samantha Fields.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Brigham Anderson said Robinson was $17,000 behind in child support.

Cooper sentenced Robinson to four years CCS with ISP, 30 days in the county jail with credit for time served and ordered him to pay $400 per month, which is split equally between his arrearage and his current child support obligation.

 

Follow Michelle Goodman on Twitter: @Michelle_Journo