Paintsville, Ky – A Johnson County man accused in his toddler son’s shooting death is now set to stand trial this fall. On October 10, 29‑year‑old Travis Mollette of Paintsville will go before a jury on a second‑degree manslaughter charge. Prosecutors say Mollette left a loaded, cocked handgun on top of a TV stand after playing video games, then went to bed. The next morning, his 2‑year‑old son reportedly found the gun and fatally shot himself. Mollette first pleaded not guilty, then later admitted to an amended reckless homicide charge under a plea deal for a recommended two‑year sentence. He withdrew that guilty plea at his February sentencing, sending the case back on track for trial this October.

London, Ky – Two weeks after one former owner of a defunct Pikeville pain clinic pleaded guilty in a federal drug case, her business partner is now headed to trial. Forty‑seven‑year‑old Brandy Melissa Meadows of Pikeville has pleaded not guilty in London federal court. Prosecutors say she and 58‑year‑old Bryce Layne May of North Carolina used a former doctor’s name and credentials to keep issuing oxycodone and hydrocodone prescriptions for 200‑dollar cash visits after he left Kentucky Mountain Health. May has already pleaded guilty and faces up to 20 years in prison at his August 18 sentencing, while Meadows goes on trial June 16. Both remain free as their cases move forward.

Inez, Ky – Forty‑seven‑year‑old Michael Childers of Harold, a former lieutenant at U.S. Penitentiary Big Sandy, was sentenced April 8 to 17 months in federal prison for falsifying records. Prosecutors say that in April 2021, an inmate who had requested protective custody was brought into the lieutenants’ office, where staff members assaulted him without justification. Afterward, Childers wrote an incident report falsely claiming the inmate had attacked him with his head and a closed fist. He later admitted he made up those details to try to obstruct the investigation into the unlawful assault.

Floyd County, Ky – A Floyd County woman is charged after a fire destroyed her mother’s home and threatened other houses nearby. Deputies say they were called April 16 to a possible arson in the Buckeye Branch area of Blue River, where fire departments and EMS found a home fully involved and flames spreading up the mountain. According to an arrest citation, 38‑year‑old Kayla Combs of Martin admitted she had been burning grass away from the residence when the fire got out of control, destroyed the house, and spread toward additional homes in the Triple S Hollow area of David. Combs was booked into the Floyd County Detention Center on charges of third‑degree arson and first‑degree criminal mischief.