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| Det. testifies in alleged robbery-kidnapping case |
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8/26/2016
By Tom Marshall
Senior Advocate writer
A Mt. Sterling Police detective shed considerable light Monday on an alleged robbery-kidnapping scheme operated via social media.
Det. Chris Haddix testified at a bond hearing for three suspects in the alleged crimes: Amber Elizabeth Duncan, 28, of Mt. Sterling, Nathon R. Miller, 21, of Lexington, and Jonathan H. Garrett, 21, of Winchester.
The three were seeking reductions in their $100,000 bonds. They are being held at the Montgomery County Regional Jail.
Each face four counts of first-degree robbery and four counts of kidnapping. Duncan is also charged with being a second-degree persistent felony offender.
Haddix testified before Montgomery County Circuit Judge Beth Maze that police set up surveillance on a house on Nevada Avenue July 14 after receiving a statement from a victim who claims he was kidnapped and robbed at the house. He gave police a description of the suspects.
During surveillance, Haddix testified that officers observed two male suspects and a juvenile female leave the residence to go to Walmart.
With the group isolated from the residence, where there were allegedly multiple firearms, Haddix said officers initiated a traffic stop on their vehicle as they left the store.
Police also served a search warrant at the Nevada Avenue residence, where they reportedly recovered two firearms and a cell phone allegedly used in the crimes, Haddix testified.
The residence was reportedly rented by Duncan’s mother, who told police she knew nothing of the alleged crimes, the detective testified.
Since the case broke, Haddix testified, three other victims have given police statements alleging that they were kidnapped and robbed at the residence, where all four suspects had reportedly been staying recently.
All the victims were reportedly from out of town and male. The alleged crimes were spread between June 23-July 13.
The victims claimed they were held at gunpoint, restrained and threatened with physical harm if they reported the alleged crimes to police, according to an indictment.
Haddix testified that Garrett and Miller allegedly held the victims at gunpoint while Duncan and the 17-year-old female went through their vehicles to steal items. Garrett and Miller reportedly took photographs of the victim’s IDs in an effort to threaten them from coming forward.
Haddix testified that the alleged victims were assaulted and photographs of their injuries were taken.
The alleged victims were reportedly led to the Nevada Avenue residence through advertisements on Craigslist.
At least two others, Haddix testified, did not choose to seek prosecution of alleged crimes committed against them at the Mt. Sterling residence. Haddix testified that those victims told police that they were “embarrassed and afraid.”
During questioning, both Miller and Duncan reportedly gave statements admitting guilt, the detective testified.
Duncan reportedly told Det./Sgt. Jimmy Daniels that the scheme was “so profitable they quit selling heroin,” Haddix testified. She reportedly told Daniels that her job was to serve as “the bait,” but Garrett was the alleged mastermind.
Duncan also reportedly admitted that there were several other victims in Richmond.
Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Keith Craycraft said Richmond Police and the Kentucky State Police in Richmond have been notified that there may be other victims.
Haddix testified that a data search will be conducted on the cell phone that was recovered.
In arguing for a reduction in bond, Duncan’s attorney, public defender Charles Landon, noted that none of the victim’s have been contacted since the suspects’ arrests.
Garrett’s attorney, Kaye Leighton, disputed the notion that Garrett had been the alleged mastermind and deserves a chance at making bond.
“I fail to believe that someone with no real (criminal) record could be the alleged ‘mastermind,’” she told Maze.
With questions surrounding what information is available on the phone, Miller’s attorney, Blaze Tomlin, asked that his client’s bond be reduced. He told the judge that there is no way his client can make a $100,000 bond.
Craycraft told the judge that despite the temporary lack of data from the phone there is still substantial evidence that a crime had been committed and bond should remain the same.
Maze agreed, saying that the bond amounts should not be reduced. She did tell defense attorneys that she might revisit bond once information from the phone is available.
The three are set to go on trial Feb. 20-23.
Craycraft said the juvenile could possibly be tried as an adult, but a decision had not yet been reached in district court.
Cases involving juveniles are generally closed to the public unless they are tried as adults.
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