Still 11 months out from jury selection and a trial, two people charged with a litany of offenses surrounding the September 2020 murder of Trigg County woman Thelma “Ileen” Barnett saw movement in their respective cases during Wednesday morning’s circuit court docket.
For Jonathan McCoy, defense attorneys Wesley Boyarski and Christy Hiance filed a motion for more discovery — in which Commonwealth’s Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins and Judge Jamus Redd agreed that 45 days was acceptable for a written response.
Redd said if further relief was required, more time could be considered. His next appearance in court was set for 9 AM September 13.
Along with his indictment for murder, he’s charged with kidnapping leading to a victim’s death, second-degree arson, tampering with physical evidence, abuse of a corpse and first-degree burglary — all attached to surrounding circumstances of Barnett’s death. His bond is still $2 million.
Keisha Stewart, meanwhile, isn’t charged with murder, but in the last three years remains deeply implicated in the crime, following an investigation from Kentucky State Police. She’s charged with one count of complicity to second-degree arson, one count of complicity abuse to a corpse, one count of complicity tampering with physical evidence and one count of complicity burglary second-degree.
Redd entered into the record a letter Stewart recently penned him, regarding the case.
Defense attorney Katy Riley said Stewart is still unable to meet this $50,000 amendment, but she hasn’t filed anything formally yet. She wanted to see if Redd and the Commonwealth had considered changes.
Redd turned to Ovey-Wiggins about the letter.
Redd also mentioned that all parties had an adversarial hearing back “some months ago,” and entered an order about Stewart’s bond on May 1.
The Commonwealth will have time to respond to Stewart’s letter in the coming weeks. These cases, which are joined, is set for trial July 2024, with a final pre-trial conference planned for May 10 of next year.
