Office of the Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney

By Intern Ramsey Groves

Every morning at 8:45 the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office has a meeting in the main conference room. All of the attorneys sit around the large table and the interns occupy the chairs lining the walls. As an intern, I always listen attentively as Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Larson and the other attorneys discuss topics such as upcoming trials and various issues people might be having with cases. Almost every day, attorneys present a synopsis of cases that have recently come to our office. This presentation is important because it keeps everyone in the office up-to-date. At the end of the meeting we all go our separate ways and return to our respective tasks. Read more »

We know two things about these predatory repeat offenders:
    1.  When they are on our streets they commit crime after crime, and
    2.  When they are incarcerated they DON’T!

Nothing causes the public to lose confidence in the criminal justice system faster than:
        Seeing crimes committed but not solved; or
        Seeing criminals caught but not convicted; or
        Seeing criminals caught and convicted but not punished.

To our citizens the message is clear - CRIME PAYS! Read more »

By Intern Jon Strom

When Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Erin Hayne informed me during my interview with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office that I would have the opportunity to ride along with the Lexington Police Department, I knew this would be one of the highlights of my summer. I imagined myself chasing after bad guys down dark alleys, busting into crack houses with guns blazing, or racing down the streets of Lexington with the siren blaring. My family has a long history in law enforcement, and I looked forward to the chance to see what my grandfather and uncles had spent so many years doing. Read more »

Louisville Courier-Journal advertising supplement is considered “Litter”
Jefferson Metro Council tells Courier-Journal and others where to stick their publications.

Every week the Louisville Courier-Journal throws 340,000 copies of its advertising supplement into the yards of residents.

There must have been lots and lots of complaints because the Jefferson County Metro Government enacted an anti-littering ordinance to stop that practice as well as anyone else delivering fliers or other printed material. Under the ordinance, they must now place those items in specific places. Read more »

In 2006, a shootout occurred between the Hells Angels and Outlaw motorcycle gangs just outside of the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.  Two Hells Angels members stopped at a motel and convenience store and found several members of the Outlaw motorcycle gang present; throughout the course of the confrontation, four Outlaws and two females were shot by Hells Angels members.

Watch this episode of In Touch with Officer Don Evans and Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Larson as they discuss the details of this case.

By Intern David Startsman

Joy Leksrisawat, Michelle Hooper, Rebecca Wichard and I had the opportunity to accompany Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Larson to Video Arraignments.

An arraignment is the starting point of the trial sequence for the individuals who have been arrested. At the arraignment, the defendant is brought in front of the court for the first time, informed of his charges, and makes a plea. The courts have adapted the use of modern technology to save money from transporting the defendants back and forth between the courthouse and the jail. A TV screen displays the prosecutor, defense attorney, judge, and defendant, so that all can see and hear each person in a video conference setting. Read more »