Every edition of "This Week in Kenton Circuit Court" includes the names and mugshots of every defendant who failed to appear for a scheduled court date in the hopes that our readers can help law enforcement locate the defendants to serve the arrest warrants.  Most wanted persons are arrested for their failure to appear in a matter of days.  Some realize they have missed court and turn themselves in.  Other defendants, however, go into hiding or skip town in an effort to run from the law.  The Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney Office has now created a web page dedicated to identifying the most dangerous and flagrant wanted persons who are at large and attempting to escape justice. 

 

If you see any of these defendants, call 911.  If you have information that could assist police in locating a wanted persons, call Kenton County Police at (859) 356-3191 or the Kenton County Sheriff at (859) 392-1800.  Each of these criminals should be considered armed and dangerous.  Do not confront or attempt to detain a wanted person.

 

To see Kenton County's Most Wanted, CLICK HERE!

On April 19, 2008 Covington Police Officer Justin Tucker and Robert Linton were working overtime in the City Heights Housing Project has part of a federally funded Community Development Block Grant.  The officers noticed an unusually high amount of traffic in and out of a residence on Muse Street and became suspicious of possible narcotic activity.  The officers stopped a vehicle that had just left the residence and spoke with the driver.  The officers then knocked on the door of the residence in an effort to verify the story given by the driver.  As they knocked, Crystal Wilson hurried towards the residence, telling officers that it was her residence apparently to stop their knocking.  It was, however, too little, too late.  Joseph Battle answered the door while smoking a marijuana "blunt".  Officers could also see more marijuana and a baggie of white powder on a table just inside the door. 

 

Tucker and Linton arrested both Battle and Wilson.  The white powder was determined to be heroin.  A search of the residence revealed a safe, the key to which was located in Battle's pocket.  Inside the safe, officers found another baggie of heroin, $1,005 in cash, and a loaded 9mm pistol.  Total amount of heroin recovered was 26.6 grams.  Also in the residence, officers located 2 digital scales, 3 cellular phones, a bulletproof vest, and a large supply of plastic baggies.  Battle, 26, listed his address at the residence on Muse but produced an Illinois driver's license.  He also claimed to be unemployed (legally anyway), but was found to have an additional $905 in his pocket.

 

Battle and Wilson were indicted by the Kenton County Grand Jury on June 5, 2008 for Trafficking in a Controlled Substance (heroin) while in possession of a firearm.  On June 25, 2008, Battle pled guilty as charged.  Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders is recommending a 12 year sentence.  "Drugs and guns have always been a dangerous combination," said Sanders, "But bulletproof vests are becoming an alarming trend.  Obviously anyone outside who needs body armor is anticipating a shootout and that would be incredibly deadly in a crowded housing project!" 

 

Final sentencing is set for August 11, 2008 before Kenton Circuit Judge Gregory Bartlett.  Wilson pled not guilty and is due back in court July 3, 2008.  Both defendants remain in the Kenton County Detention Center.