Rape, strangulation and assaulting a police officer were among indictments returned by the Christian County Grand Jury Friday morning.
44-year old James Arnette Sanders of Hopkinsville was indicted for first-degree rape – domestic violence, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, and intimidating a participant in a legal process. On December 11, 2019, Hopkinsville Police reported Mrs. Sanders stated she and her husband got into a verbal argument which turned physical when he grabbed her and pushed her head into a wall several times at their apartment on Younglove Street. When the victim tried to call the police, Sanders allegedly broke her cell phone and would not let her leave the residence for approximately a day. Police said the victim stated Sanders forced to her have non-consensual sex on two separate occasions during the course of the day.
20-year old Payton Maurice Leneave of Hopkinsville was indicted for first-degree complicity wanton endangerment in connection to a drive-by shooting that occurred on May 20, 2019. Hopkinsville Police reported several witnesses saw Leneave driving his vehicle when his passenger, Trey Kern fired two shots at the residence of a female victim, who was inside the home. There were no injuries reported.
28-year old Alex Michael Settles of Hopkinsville was indicted for first-degree strangulation, two counts of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, tampering with physical evidence, trafficking in synthetic drugs, fourth-degree assault – domestic violence, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The charges stem from December 22, 2019, when Hopkinsville Police reported Settles choked and hit his girlfriend and then shoved her head against the floor and kicked her. Police said Settles then told her to get into a closet. Settles reportedly hid two guns inside the home and as police were looking for the guns they found a plastic bag full of synthetic marijuana and a digital scale.
36-year old Wilford Sweeney Smith of third-degree assault of a police officer, first-degree fleeing or evading police, second-degree fleeing or evading police, resisting arrest, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance and other offenses. The charges are in connection to a pursuit with Kentucky State Police on December 15, 2019. State Police tried to stop a speeding car driven by Smith on the Pennyrile Parkway who then exited onto Russellville Road and turned into the Western Hills Mobile Home Park. Police sai Smith then bailed out of the car and ran. Smith was arrested after he was found by K9 hiding under a mobile home.
20-year old Benjamin Reed Kelly of Hopkinsville was indicted for third-degree burglary. According to police, Kelly pried a hole in a wall at Builder’s First Source on November 3, 2019, and took a laptop, a safe and a truck that they used to ram a locked gate at the business with Kelly riding in the bed of the truck. Kelly was reportedly found hiding under some clothes in a home on Tennessee Avenue and then gave officers a false name. Police said Kelly suffered life-threatening injuries during the burglary and was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville where he was treated and released into police custody.
And 22-year old Crystal Starr Harris of Hopkinsville was indicted for first-degree criminal mischief. The charge stems from September 27, 2019, when police reported Harris and another unidentified woman dumped cooked shrimp into a vehicle owned by Veronica Parker, causing over $1,000 in damage. Police reported Parker’s granddaughter was dating Harris’s ex-boyfriend at the time the incident occurred on Fort Campbell Boulevard. Parker was reportedly seen on surveillance video from a nearby business damaging the vehicle.
