Former deputy jailer gets 10 ½ years in inmate beating death

HAZARD (AP) — A former Kentucky jailer accused of beating an inmate who later died has been sentenced to 10 1/2 years in federal prison.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that 40-year-old Damon Wayne Hickman was sentenced Wednesday in connection with the 2013 death of 54-year-old Larry Trent, who was being held at the jail in Hazard on a DUI charge.

Prosecutors said two deputy jailers beat Trent after he ran out of his cell and that they then left him bleeding on the floor.

Hickman pleaded guilty in November 2016 to three charges in the case and testified against the other deputy jailer, 60-year-old William Curtis Howell, in the case. Howell was convicted in May and has yet to be sentenced.

Hickman must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence.

3-year-old trick-or-treater hit by truck

PIKEVILLE (AP) — Kentucky police say a drunken driver backed his truck into a 3-year-old girl who was trick-or-treating, sending her to the hospital.

Elkhorn City police said 50-year-old Gregory Hackney of Pike County was traveling Tuesday in an area popular with trick-or-treaters when he stopped his truck and began backing up in the direction of the girl.

Police told the Lexington Herald-Leader that the girl’s handprint and smudges from her head were left on the truck’s bumper.

The girl was taken to a hospital. Police said as of Wednesday morning, she was bruised and sore but recovering at home.

Hackney was charged with DUI, wanton endangerment, fourth-degree assault and reckless driving. The county jail didn’t list him as an inmate in online records, and the newspaper didn’t say whether he had a lawyer.

State trooper fatally shoots 1 man

PIPPA PASSES (AP) — Kentucky State Police say a trooper fatally shot a man who tried to hit him with a car.

State police spokesman Jody Sims told WYMT-TV that Trooper Leo Slone and Knott County Sheriff’s Deputy Robbie Slone were serving a warrant Wednesday night when they discovered Christopher Jacobs underneath a mobile home.

Sims says Jacob headed to a nearby car and officers tried to get him out. Jacobs accelerated into the deputy’s vehicle as Slone attempted to forcibly remove him from the car. Sims says the man put the vehicle into reverse and aimed it at the trooper, who then fired shots.

The officers attempted to perform CPR, but Jacobs died of his injuries.

Kentucky State Police are investigating the shooting.

17 parks offering Thanksgiving buffets

FRANKFORT (AP) — Seventeen Kentucky State Resort Parks plan to serve buffets to guests on Thanksgiving Day.

The Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet says there will be a variety of main dishes to choose from on Nov. 23: turkey, ham, fried chicken and roast beef. There will be soups and salads offered, along with plenty of side dishes, rolls and desserts including pumpkin and pecan pies.

Officials say the annual event usually attracts about 10,000 people across the state.

The buffet costs $19.50 for adults and $9.50 for children ages 6-12. It is free for children under 6.

Ky. attorney general warns of advertising scam

FRANKFORT (AP) — Attorney General Andy Beshear has issued a scam alert to warn Kentuckians about fraudulent ads placed in the classified sections of newspapers and online.

Beshear says people in several counties including Bath, Barren, Franklin and Jefferson have reported replying to classified ads for discounted tractors or pickup trucks that turned out to be a scam. Beshear says those reporting the scams reported the ads appeared normal at first and included a price for the item and a contact phone number.

He says once an interested buyer places a call, they don’t speak with anyone, but receive text messages or emails. The replies are from someone claiming to be selling the item at a deep discount because it belonged to her late husband, and she’s leaving soon for a military deployment.

Warrant: Impersonator arrested after pulling over officer

LOUISVILLE (AP) — Officials say a Kentucky man pretending to be a police officer is facing charges after pulling over a real officer.

News outlets cited an arrest warrant in reporting that a Louisville police officer was driving his personal vehicle when 24-year-old Brandon Hurley began driving toward him Saturday with flashing lights and a honking horn.

The warrant says the officer pulled over and Hurley asked him if he knew how fast he was going.

When the officer identified himself as working for the Louisville police force, Hurley said he wouldn’t write him a ticket and left the scene.

Police said the officer got Hurley’s license plate number and he was arrested Tuesday on charges of impersonating a peace officer and wanton endangerment.

Jail records don’t indicate whether he has an attorney.

Teens charged with drug offenses at 3 Ky. schools

STANFORD (AP) — Five teenagers from two high schools and a middle school have been charged with drug-trafficking offenses.

In a report Tuesday, WKYT-TV quoted Stanford police Chief Zach Middleton as saying the investigation began last week after a school administrator noticed some students behaving suspiciously.

Middleton says the students either had or were using various pills. He says investigators are working to determine how they obtained the drugs. Middleton did not release their ages or their names, and The Associated Press does not generally identify juveniles charged with crimes. The investigation involved Lincoln County Middle School, Lincoln County High School and Fort Logan High School.

Police released the students to their parents’ custody.