LONDON, Ky. (WMDJ) - Former Floyd County Schools bus driver Andrew Lewis is asking a federal judge to release him under strict supervision while he awaits trial on a charge of attempting to entice a minor into illegal sexual activity.
 

In an October 5th motion, defense attorney Stephen W. Owens asked the court to reverse or modify an earlier detention order.
 

Proposed restrictions include home detention, GPS monitoring, no internet-capable devices, no contact with the alleged victim and no employment requiring contact with minors.
 

Owens argues those conditions would adequately protect the community. The motion also cites Lewis’ lack of a prior criminal record and strong family and community ties.
 

Lewis previously pleaded not guilty. A judge has yet to issue a ruling on the request.

Previous Coverage can be found here.

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) – A Lexington man faces drug trafficking and other charges after allegedly fleeing Floyd County deputies on October 3rd.
 

According to the arrest citation, deputies investigating a tip attempted to stop Franklin Jamar Brooks, 30, on Old Middle Creek Road after observing a turn signal violation.
 

The citation alleges Brooks fled, forcing a deputy to move out of his path to avoid being struck, before continuing onto KY 114 at high speed.
 

During the pursuit, Brooks allegedly threw bags from his vehicle, scattering a gray substance a deputy suspected was carfentanil.
 

Deputies stopped Brooks using a rolling roadblock. A deputy reported deploying a Taser after Brooks allegedly resisted being removed from the vehicle.
 

Brooks was charged with aggravated trafficking in carfentanil/fentanyl derivatives, three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment involving a police officer, first-degree fleeing or evading police, and a turn signal violation.
 

He was taken to the Floyd County Detention Center.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WMDJ) – Kentucky recorded 12,380 new voter registrations in September, its highest monthly total since 2024, according to Friday's news release from Secretary of State Michael Adams.

The state’s voter rolls grew by a net 7,323 after officials removed 5,057 registrations, mostly belonging to deceased voters.

Independent and third-party registration posted the largest net gain, adding 2,610 voters. Democratic registration increased by 2,486, while Republican registration grew by 2,227.

Republicans account for 48 percent of Kentucky’s registered voters, with approximately 1.63 million. Democrats represent 41 percent, with about 1.37 million. Nearly 389,000 voters are registered under other affiliations, mostly independent, accounting for the remaining 11 percent.

Other removals included voters who moved out of state, duplicate registrations, felony convictions and people who voluntarily canceled their registrations.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WMDJ) – Attorneys for former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines are asking a higher court to block a second mental health examination scheduled for Oct. 14.

In a petition for a writ of prohibition, Stines’ attorneys argue he has already undergone a court-ordered criminal responsibility evaluation through the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center.

The defense claims prosecutors have not identified any problems with the original examination and are instead seeking another evaluation because they disagree with the first examiner’s opinion.

A judge previously granted the Commonwealth’s request for another evaluation, finding the request reasonable and supported by good cause.

Stines’ attorneys argue requiring another examination would unnecessarily infringe on his Fifth Amendment rights. They are asking the court to vacate the order allowing the examination or, alternatively, allow the Commonwealth’s expert to review the existing KCPC materials without personally examining Stines.

Stines is charged with murder in the 2024 shooting death of Letcher District Judge Kevin Mullins.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WMDJ) – Paintsville native and former Kentucky basketball standout John Pelphrey is returning to Lexington to join head coach Mark Pope’s staff.

A University of Kentucky men’s basketball spokesperson confirmed Friday that Pelphrey will serve as the program’s director of player development, a non-coaching support position.

Pelphrey starred at Paintsville High School before playing for Kentucky from 1987 to 1992. He became one of the four seniors remembered as “The Unforgettables,” helping rebuild the Wildcats program following NCAA sanctions.

Pelphrey scored 1,25.7 points during his Kentucky career and had his No. 34 jersey retired. He is also a member of the UK Athletics Hall of Fame.

The 58-year-old most recently served as head coach at Tennessee Tech. He has also been a head coach at South Alabama and Arkansas.

Pelphrey officially begins his new role Friday as Kentucky opens the 2026-27 basketball season with Big Blue Madness at Rupp Arena. Friday night's event begins at 7 p.m. and can be seen on SEC+.

LOUISA, Ky. (WMDJ) – A Lawrence County man was arrested Tuesday evening after deputies say he ran from them while they were responding to a home on Spencer Branch Road.

According to an arrest citation, deputies were called to the home concerning a man with active warrants who was reportedly damaging property.

Deputies say Kenneth McKinster, of Louisa, ran out the back door when they arrived. A deputy pursued him approximately 200 feet before McKinster stopped in a neighboring yard and was taken into custody without further incident.

Authorities also served McKinster with an outstanding warrant related to an incident in January. The citation alleges McKinster damaged drywall inside his mother’s home and threatened to kill her.

McKinster was charged with third-degree fleeing or evading police, second-degree criminal mischief and third-degree terroristic threatening.

He was taken to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WMDJ) – A Pike County man has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for possession of child pornography.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky, 35-year-old Charles Hopkins, of Virgie, was sentenced Tuesday to 80 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell.

Federal authorities say the investigation began in May 2025 after law enforcement received a tip that sexually explicit material involving a child had been uploaded to Hopkins’ internet-based Verizon cloud storage account.

Investigators later seized and searched Hopkins’ phone, where they reported finding additional child pornography.

The FBI conducted the investigation, and the case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative.

Under federal law, Hopkins must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence. He will also be under federal supervision for 15 years following his release.