The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 9

THE COURIER-JOURNAL, SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1994 A 9 A musher up close Minister gets 15 years for molesting 2 girls Girl held in rider's lap is tossed out in car crash By TODD MURPHY Staff Writer i A minister who worked at Shawnee Baptist Church was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing two girls an 11-year-old member of a puppet troupe hj headed and a 10-year-old student af a church school where he taught. Earlier this month the Rev. Edward Crowder, of the 9900 block of Vega Lane, was sentenced in Floyd County, to 10 years in prison after admitting he molested one of the girls in a hotel there. "You used your position to make improper sexual advances," Lori Bowman, who spoke on behalf of one of the victims, told Crowder at yesterday's sentencing hearing in Jefferson Circuit Court. "She respected and trusted you, and you took that and you manipulated and intimidated her." Crowder, 49, pleaded guilty in March to three counts of first-degree sexual abuse.

Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped a sodomy charge, which carries a minimum sentence of 20 years. Crowder told Judge John W. Potter that he "caressed" the 11-year-old in November 1992, but he denied doing anything improper to the 10-year-old in the summer of 1988. But Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Ann Schiavone said Crowder tried to sodomize the 11-year-old in a vacant house and fondled the 10-year-old as she slept at his home, where she was visiting Crowder's daughter.

According to court records, the child molested in the vacant house said Crowder also tried to have sex with her at a New Albany motel. Crowder confirmed her account. "I understand that you are sick. But you need to understand what you have done to this child," Bowman said. "When she returned to her church she was called a liar by her peers.

She was shunned by the adults. This has emotionally devastated her. "You can only receive so many years, not a life sentence. (The girl) has received a life sentence. She has emotional scars that will be with her the rest of her life." At the end of the hearing, Crowder, appearing nervous, apologized to the victims' families.

"I realize it would be very hard," he said. "I aslf that they, through God's grace, find the ability to forgive me." Potter followed the recommendation of the plea agreement: that Crowder serve five years on each count and that the sentences run consecutively. The two states' sentences will run concurrently, but his Indiana sentence will ensure that he stays in prison at least five years. STAFF PHOTO BY PAUL SCHUHMANN D-2, one of the sled dogs belonging to 1994 Alaskan Iditarod winner Martin Buser, got acquainted with Peter Sullivan, 13 months, as Kaltlyn Diddle, 10 months, took a back seat to the action yesterday at Feeders Supply on Baxter Avenue in Louisville. Buser and D-2 visited all five Louisville-area Feeders Supply stores yesterday for a pet-food promotion.

Housing Authority is sued by girl, 14, injured in Sheppard Square shooting CRIME REPORTS A 20-month-old girl who was sitting on a passenger's lap was thrown from a car yesterday after a three-vehicle accident on North Western Parkway. The girl, whose name was not released, was treated at Kosair Children's Hospital and released. Courtney Ruff, 18, was driving south on the parkway about 3:20 p.m. when Michael Yarbrough, 18, hit her car from behind, Louisville police Officer Michael Canteen said. Ruff lost control of her car and crossed into the northbound lane, where she hit a guardrail.

Her car then spun back into traffic and hit a van driven by Ronald Thurman, 32, who was stopped at Jewell Avenue, Canteen said. The car spun again, hit an embankment and came to a stop. Ruffs daughter, who was sitting on the lap of Deekeysha Rose, IS, was then thrown from the cp, Canteen said. Ruff and Rose suffered minor injuries and were treated and released from University Hospital. Yarbrough and Thurman were not injured.

No charges were filed. Sen. Rogers' corruption trial delayed The Frankfort Bureau FRANKFORT, Ky. U.S. District Judge Joseph Hood yesterday postponed the corruption trial of Senate Republican Floor Leader John Rogers until Oct.

17. Rogers, 53, a Somerset lawyer who has represented the 15th Senate District since 1976, was indicted in April as part of the Operation BOPTROT investigation. He is charged with conspiracy to commit extortion, attempted extortion, mail fraud and lying to the FBI. The charges allege that Rogers and others agreed to promote passage of 1984 banking legislation in exchange for profits from a bank owned by Wallace Wilkinson, who was later elected governor. Rogers pleaded not guilty, and his trial was set for next month.

But during a brief hearing yesterday, Hood accepted the argument of Rogers' attorney, Jack Smith, that he needs more time to prepare. Smith said after the hearing that he will file a motion to dismiss the charges. Wilkinson, who was governor from 1987 to 1991, has not been charged and has denied that he tried to bribe or improperly influence anyone's vote on the 1984 bank bill. By NIKTTA STEWART Staff Writer More than a year after 14-year-old Latanya Stevenson was hit in the head by a random gunshot in Sheppard Square, she has sued the Housing Authority of Louisville. The lawsuit, filed yesterday in Jefferson Circuit Court, says the Housing Authority was negligent in its duty to provide suitable housing and adequate security for Stevenson, who was shot April 3, 1993, after a dance at the Presbyterian Community Center.

Stevenson still has a bullet lodged in the right side of her neck. The suit also claims that the person who shot Stevenson was living in Sheppard Square illegally with other people who were "known to residents of an apartment only when recertifying tenants, Kredens said. The tenants are supposed to verify who is living there during the annual recertification, she said. The authority also has a hot line for residents to call if they suspect another resident of fraud, she said. When grant money is available, the authority has a foot patrol from 4 p.m.

to 4 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It started up again May 12, said John Groves, acting director of safety and investigations. The patrol, in which each Housing Authority family complex has two police officers walking through it, has been in place for three years and has been successful, he said. Because Stevenson is a minor, she had up until two years after turning 18 to file suit, Karem said.

pose grave danger to the health and safety of the residents." The Housing Authority received complaints about the people there but failed to remove them, the suit says. "Had the Housing Authority properly managed (Sheppard Square), the shooting never would have happened," said Danny Karem, Stevenson's attorney. The suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Officials at the Housing Authority had not seen the suit yesterday and would not comment specifically. However, the Housing Authority does not have an annual check for illegal residents, said spokeswoman Julie Kredens.

"If someone is living in an apartment illegally, there's no way to find out." The Housing Authority checks the Accomplice in murder, burglary is sentenced ROBBERIES Algonquin Park. Georgette Bradford said two men knocked her and an 11-year-old girl down and took their bicycles about 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Bishop Alley. Jessie Driver said a'man with a gun took a wallet and $7 about 5:45 a.m.

Thursday. Dixie Highway and Hill St. Patricia Lowndes said she was riding hfcr bicycle when a man threatened her with a can of Mace and took her wallet, which contained an undetermined amount of cash, about 7:15 p.m. Wednesday. 2900 block of Wilson Ave.

An employee of Kentucky Classic Cleaning Service said a man with a gun told him to drive the company van tq the 3500 block of Sherrill Avenue, where the man forced the employee out and drove away. BREAK-INS, THEFTS LOUlWlll 400 block of N. 25th St Jlmmie Humphrey's yard. Lawn mowers. Wednesday or Thursday.

800 block of S. 42nd St. Virginia Holt's home. TV, microwave oven. Wednesday or Thursday.

400 block of Camp SL Edith Windsor's home. Wallet, cash, check. Wednesday. 600 block of Roy Wllklna Ave. LaTonya Birdsong's home.

TV. Thursday or yesterday. 5300 block of Southdale Road. Regena Miller's home. TVs, keyboard.

Thursday. COURT ACTION Criminal caaaa Drugs. Micah L. Goldsmith, 18, of the 4900 block of Cawood Drive. Charge of trafficking in cocaine dismissed.

Drugs. Mark A. Jones, 24, of the 4000 block of Bali Place. Charged with trafficking in cocaine. Pleaded guilty to amended charge of illegal possession of a Schedule IV narcotic.

Charges of possession of a Schedule IV narcotic and possession and use of drug paraphernalia dismissed. Placed on probation for two years. Drugs. Joseph Q. Usellis, 24, of the 4000 block of Bali Place.

Charged with trafficking in cocaine. Pleaded guilty to amended charge of illegal possession of a Schedule IV narcotic. Charges of possession of a Schedule IV narcotic and possession and use of drug paraphernalia dismissed. Placed on probation for two years. Drugs.

Kerry I. Smith, 30, of the 4500 block of Cane Run Road. Charges of trafficking in cocaine, drinking alcohol in public, tampering with physical evidence and resisting arrest dismissed. Robbery. Shawn A.

Wilson, 23, of the 7100 block of Greenlawn Road. Charge of first-degree robbery dismissed. Drunkan-drlvlng convictions Thomas W. Brown, 25, of the 1000 block of W. Indian Trail, fined $350, sentenced to 45 days.

Second conviction. Sherry A. Hoffman, 29, address unavailable, $350, 10 days. Second conviction. Rodney W.

Holland, 40, of the 4000 block of Beech St, $350, seven days. Second conviction. William A. McNear, 31 of the 3800 block of Parthenla $500, 180 days. Third conviction.

Wayne K. Ogoley, 34, of the 4100 block of S. Third $500, 90 days. Third conviction. Camilla M.

Wright, 34, of the 3900 block of Southern Parkway, $350, 60 days. Second conviction. (In addition to being assessed the penalties listed, all Kentuckians convicted of drunken driving lose their licenses for at least 30 days and pay a $150 fee.) Reader with Information about these or other Crimea can call Crime Stopper at 582-CLUE. If you call, you don't have to give your name. Crime Stoppers will pay cash for Information that leads to an arrest and Indictment In any felony.

death. He was sentenced then only for the robbery. Wright testified late last month against Elam Ray Fulcher in Fulcher's murder trial. Wright told the jury that he and Fulcher, 27, went to Bramer's home on Cane Run Road to steal money. Wright said the two men entered but fled when Bramer awoke.

Bramer followed them outside and "smacked" Fulcher, Wright said. He testified that at that point, Fulcher politely asked to speak with Bramer, and the two men re-entered the home. Minutes later, Wright said, he went inside and saw Fulcher hitting Bramer with a hammer. He testified that Fulcher also stabbed Bramer in the neck. By TODD MURPHY Staff Writer The man who helped send his accomplice to prison last month was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison for his part in the bludgeoning murder of 69-year-old Charles Bramer in December 1991.

But Terry Wright's sentence for burglary and complicity to murder in Bramer's death will run at the same time as the 20-year sentence he already had received for robbery in the same case, so he will serve no added time. Wright, 28, of the 1100 block of Lincoln Avenue, pleaded guilty early last month on robbery, burglary and murder charges in Bramer's Fulcher's lawyer, Jay Lambert, called Wright the killer at Fulcher's trial. He said that, as a drug dealer in debt to a grandson of Bramer's, Wright had a motive for robbery and that blood matching Bramer's was found on Wright's jacket. Wright's and Fulcher's complicity in the crime makes them both guilty of murder, regardless of who actually killed Bramer. The jury convicted Fulcher of murder, and Jefferson Circuit Judge Kenneth Conliffe sentenced him to life in prison.

He will be eligible for parole in 12 years, although parole is usually not granted when an inmate first becomes eligible. Wright will be eligible for parole in 10 years. Memorial niiUr Sunday a Dav zVw Double Discount Savings in our store I X. 1 I wmm Indudihg special orderst t-'- With minimum tiowiipaymwjt i -J vJ'voK JV BAZA itpiiii Regular Price Double Discount Price Single Discount Price $519 $419 $389 fyf I utetime Guarantee! ShowcaseJshoppes mm mm i mtm mkm Where more recliners are sold! 225 S. Hurstbourne Parkway, just south of Shetbyville Rd.

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