Floyd County, Ky – A Floyd County woman, Barbara Johnson, 50, was arrested after allegedly waving a stolen gun around the yard of a home on Powell Branch Road in Tram. Sheriff’s deputies say Johnson had a .380 automatic handgun in her hand, finger on the trigger, when they arrived. A male at the scene was shouting for her to put the gun down. The firearm was found to be reported stolen out of North Carolina.

 

Pikeville, Ky – Suspended Pike County Circuit Judge Howard Keith Hall has been found not guilty of federal theft and mail fraud charges in U.S. District Court in Frankfort. The charges stemmed from Hall’s time as Pike County Attorney, where prosecutors claimed an assistant was paid despite doing little or no work. Judge Hall was acquitted after a trial that began last week. At this time, it’s unclear when he might return to the bench.

 

Inez, Ky – A Martin County man is facing charges after repeatedly making false 911 calls to lure police to his home for harassment. Deputies arrested 30-year-old Austin Harless of Debord for filing false reports and disorderly conduct after he made at least 10 bogus calls. Police also charged his father, Homer Harless Jr., for resisting arrest and obstructing government operations during the incident. Authorities say Austin has a pattern of livestreaming confrontational police encounters.

 

Louisa, Ky – A Louisa woman is in jail on charges of child abuse and endangerment after police found her two young children living in filthy and unsafe conditions. Officers say Virginia Lynn Fernow, 26, kept the kids in a home filled with garbage and dog feces, and tried to treat her daughter’s burn with diaper rash cream instead of medical care. Fernow was arrested last Friday and is being held at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center. Her next court date is set for November 19.