The Death Penalty system in Kentucky and throughout the U.S. is
riddled with errors that ruin people's lives, and its application is so
cP pens e inconsistent that arbitrariness is the rule, not the exception.
PENALTY
KENTUCKY
Here are some examples:
More than 140 persons (143) have been released from death row in the United States; several have
spoken here in Kentucky. Kentucky had to release one inmate after the KY Supreme Court unanimously
ordered a new trial and excluded the use of hearsay testimony offered by the prosecutor. The new jury,
unaffected by that spurious testimony, found him not guilty. Larry Osborne was released. Other
Kentuckians, at least one of whom faced a death penalty, served many years before release for wrongful
conviction.
e Michael VonAllmen, 1983, J efferson county, Rape, Sodomy, Robbery, 35 years
e Herman May, 1988, Franklin Co, rape and sodomy, 20 yrs for each offense (served 13 %
years)
e Ben Kiper, 1999, Butler County, convicted of sexual abuse, 55 years (served 7 years)
e Tim Smith, 2000, Kenton County, convicted of first degree sodomy, 20 years (served 7 years)
e Jaqulyn Green, 2000, McCreary Co, convicted of complicity to commit murder under EED, 18
yrs (served 7 years)
e Sam Plotnick , 2001, Whitley County, convicted of sexual abuse, 18 years (served 7 years)
e Jason Girts, 2004, Bullit County, convicted of sex abuse 1st, 5 years (served 3 years)
e Lacy Bedingfield, 1995, Fayette Co, convicted of rape, sentenced to 25 yrs (served 14 years)
e Edwin A. Chandler, 1993, | efferson County; convicted of robbery and second degree
manslaughter, 30 years (served 9 years)
e William Gregory, 1992, | efferson county, convicted of rape, attempted rape, and burglary, 70
years, (Served 7 years)
e Larry Osborne was sentenced to death. He was acquitted upon reversal and retrial. See
Osborne v. Commonwealth, 43 S.W.3d 234 (Ky 2001)
For more information contact Shekinah Lavalle at 502.636.1330 or shekinah.lavalle@ kcadp.org.
Visit www.kcadp.org.
Worst of the Worst? The following are cases within the last 5 years that qualified for the Death
Penalty but resulted in lesser sentences
e Robert Drown, J r.—Double Child Killer, Rapist. Pled Guilty. Life in Prison by plea agreement. (May
2010). Life in prison is a plea deal the family agreed to to avoid potentially years of appeals and legal
wranglings. WSAZ News, Grayson KY
e Raymond Clutter— Murderer, Rapist, Dismembered His Victim. After a mistrial because of prosecutor
error, the Commonwealth chose not to seek death a jury sentenced him to life in prison. (August, 2010)
Burlington KY
e Michael Abner— Serial Killer. Pled guilty and received a life sentence. Eligible for parole at age 82.
(Arrested J an 2010)
e Lloyd Hammond—Triple Murderer. J ury sentenced him to life without parole. (J une 2010; case later
overturned (2012) and he awaiting a new trial. Two of the murder charges have been dropped.
e Raymond Harris— Hitman. Killed for $1000. Sentenced to life without parole for 25 years. (May 2008)
Killed a sheriff for money or profit.
e Clayton Jackson—Triple Child Killer. | ury sentenced him to life. Prosecutor says justice was served.
(2011 conviction) Conviction overturned in 2013; waiting new trial.
e Cecil New— Pedophile, Child Killer, Rapist. Sentenced by judge to life in prison without parole for
kidnapping, raping and killing a 4-year old boy. (December 2010)
e Said Biyad— Quadruple Child Murderer. Killed His Four children. Prosecutor did not seek death penalty;
judge call this the “worst criminal case” he had seen in 18 years on the bench. Sentenced to life. (J une
2011)
e Miguel Angel Velazquez—Triple Murder with Gun, Baseball Bat and Choking. Plea agreement.
Sentenced to life by the judge. (J uly 2011)
e Nicholas Salfi— Murderer. J udge in case stated: ‘This is one of the most serious crimes this court has
ever seen.” And the prosecutor said: “[O Jne of the most brutal crimes I’ve ever seen...” The jury
recommended and the judge imposed a 55 year sentence. (August 2011)
e Robin Maple— Murderer, Kidnapper. At the request of the victim's family the prosecutor did not seek
death. Serving a life without parole sentence. (April 2011)
e William Blancet, Sr. - triple murder, first degree robbery, wanton endangerment; allowed to plead guilty
for life without parole, J une 2013, Fayette County
e Samuel Daniels - convicted of the murder of two persons; also two counts of robbery - jury sentenced
to life without parole on the murders and 10 years on the robberies. Sep 10, 2013 J efferson Co.
e J ohn Devine Sr -- Admitted to murdering his ex-girlfriend in her sleep and their two little boys, 5 and 6.
July 15, 2012, J efferson County. Sentenced to life without parole.
For more information contact Shekinah Lavalle at 502.636.1330 or shekinah.lavalle@ kcadp.org.
Visit www.kcadp.org.
