The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 6

(32) THE COURIER-JOURNAL KENTUC UESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1998 B3 KM Harlan lawyer's murder trial begins Prosecutor tells of fatal shooting of client's husband lawyer fired the shot that fatally injured her husband through a briefcase. George Budgick diea eight days later. But Thomas, an assistant Harlan County attorney, contended in a statement to police that Gerema Budgick became belligerent and they got into a shoving match, Malone said. Thomas said she aimed a handgun at him and that it discharged when he and the Budgicks struggled for it, the statement said. According to Malone, Thomas said he did not know George Budgick had been shot, so he left the Budgicks' home and drove back to Harlan.

Thomas, who is charged with murder and attempted murder, has pleaded innocent in the shooting, which occurred the night of Oct. 6, 1997. His attorneys reserved their opening statements until after Malone presents the prosecution's case. Thomas will testify in his own de fense, said Ken Smith, one of Thomas' attorneys. In his opening statement, Malone told the jury that Thomas shot George Budgick and tried to shoot his wife to conceal the lawyer's forgeries of judges' orders in the woman's divorce case.

Thomas represented Gerema Budgick in her 1990 divorce from Leon Howard, two years before she and Budgick were married. He continued to represent her in several post-divorce matters, including a child-support agreement with her former husband. After Howard obtained a 1994 judge's order against his ex-wife requiring that she pay $3,250 in unpaid child support, her wages were attached. But Thomas then presented her with another order to which he forged a judge's name removing the attachment, the prosecution said. After her wages remained at tached, Thomas showed Budgick a second order, in late 1995, removing the garnishment.

But he had forged another judge's name to that order, Malone told jurors. Then, without Budgick's knowledge, Thomas and her ex-husband's lawyer reached an agreement to resolve the child-support issue. The agreement required Budgick to pay the original $3,200, plus interest, to her former husband and appear at a hearing on Sept. 3, 1997, if payments were not made. When she missed the hearing because she didn't know about it her ex-husband's lawyer threatened her arrest.

At that time, Malone said, Thomas knew his malfeasance would be discovered, so he drove to Lexington to talk it over with the Budgicks. The trip's purpose, Malone charged, "was to get rid of the people (who) could ruin his career, ruin his profession." By RICHARD WILSON The Courier-Journal LEXINGTON, Ky. A Harlan lawyer accused of trying to shoot a client and killing her husband reportedly fired the fatal shot through a briefcase as he was leaving the couple's home, a prosecutor said yesterday. Fayette County Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Mike Malone described the killing of George Budgick yesterday in an opening statement at the trial of Robert D. Thomas in Fayette Circuit Court.

Malone said Thomas' client, Ger-ema Budgick, would testify that the REGIONAL BRIEFS COMPILED FROM WIRE DISPATCHES Boyfriend charged in woman's strangling SPRINGFIELD, Ky. The live-in boyfriend of a Springfield woman has been charged in her strangling death. Beverly Gaines, 45, died shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday, Springfield Police Chief Larry Tousignant said. William Thompson, 51, was arrested at the scene and charged with murder, Tousignant said.

"He's the one that made the 911 call, and he remained in the house while our officers showed up," the chief said. Thompson was lodged in the Marion County Jail. "An emergency protective order had been taken out against him (Thompson) by her in Campbellsville on October 5th and it expired on October 19th," Tousignant said. "She had made no effort to renew that or to make it into a domestic violence order, which is for a longer period of time." "Alcohol was a factor" in the slaying, Tousignant said. Defendant is escapee from prison in Kentucky TUCSON, Ariz.

A woman accused of embezzling more than $500,000 from a Tucson company had escaped from a federal prison in Lexington, and was using an assumed name, authorities say. Robyn Lee Sheehy, 31, escaped in August 1996 without serving a full day, officials said. She had been convicted of embezzling money from an Indiana company, according to investigators with the Pima County attorney's office and federal officials. Sheehy, arrested and jailed last month, is charged with embezzling more than $500,000 from IFS (Industrial and Financial Systems Inc.) of Tucson, which produces computer software applications, mainly for manufacturing plants. She was hired by the company in October 1996 as a controller and was fired two months ago.

IFS filed a lawsuit against Sheehy that accuses her of running up about $150,000 of questionable expenses on a company credit card. Ex-Kenton official pleads guilty over bids COVINGTON, Ky. A former Kenton County official pleaded guilty yesterday to a criminal charge that he showed confidential bid information to a developer who later won the construction contracts for a county courthouse and parking garage. Clyde Middleton, a former Kenton County judge-executive who resigned under pressure in May after the allegations became public, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of official misconduct. He faces up to a year behind bars and a $500 fine when he is sentenced Jan.

11 in Kenton Circuit Court. Judge Douglas Stephens allowed Middleton, 70, of Fort Mitchell, to remain free until the sentencing. Middleton originally was charged with a felony, misuse of confidential information. But the charge was reduced in an agreement with state prosecutors. Neville Brothers start strong and get better By ALLEN HOWIE Special to The Courier-Journal With a 90-minute show that started strong and gained momentum, the Neville Brothers Music review Neville Brothers ville Brothers performance is a spiritual experience.

The group did its part in making it one by serving up an encore of "Amazing Grace," Bob Marley's "One Love" and Mayfield's "People Get Ready," bringing their all-too-brief Louisville engagement to a stirring conclusion. The show was opened in fine fashion by Jerry Green and Friends, whose soulful 40-minute set showcased an eclectic song selection, fine musicianship and a refreshing commitment to give the crowd its money's worth. followed by an old number, "Fiyo on the Bayou," both of which gave the band a chance to stretch out. Aaron Neville's reprise of "I Don't Know Much," his hit duet with Linda Ron-stadt, preceded the evening's first truly sublime moment: a shimmering cover of Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now," with layered harmonies washing over the band's infectious reggae groove. The audience got a preview of the band's upcoming album, "Valence Street," including the title track, an instrumental featuring Charles Ne ville's always outstanding sax.

With three strong lead voices, one of the strengths of the Neville Brothers is the group's ability to cover just about any song and make it their own. Sunday night's show made the point again, with the band turning in splendid versions of Curtis Mayfield's "I'm So Proud," Pete Seeger's "If I Had a Hammer," a take on Van Morrison's "Crazy Love" that was simply magnificent, and a raucous sendup of "Hound Dog" dedicated to Kenneth Starr. It's been said that attending a Ne took the stage at the Louisville Palace Sunday night and took the chill off a brisk October evening. additional musi Backed by six cians, New Orleans' favorite quartet began with a recent tune, "Voodoo," II1MIIIB WWII MW PHIUM 1 IH MIMHIMMIIBMIW WMBMl zvtx itJ ji ri iJ zi ya 1 i SAVE 40-50 OFF Suggested Retail JPrice 90 Day Trial Period $15.00 $17.50 $27.50 $42.50 $67.50 $92.50 $35 100 mini 200 min I 350 min 600 min 1000 in 1500 min ection Notes NEWS FROM THE 1998 CAMPAIGNS STAR KEY IN THE EAR HEARING AIDS Starting at New expanded home calling area. Save on roaming.

IjjPHHBy 3 Expires 103198 339-1156 "ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT OUR REPUTATION" We are Louisville's only hearing center to carry DIrI Focus: 100 digital technology in a hearing aid! Come in today and hear the difference. FREE HEARING TEST li I I VartuwirUf ll 225 S. Hurstboume Pkwy Women back Scorsone for Congress LEXINGTON, Ky. A group of Central Kentucky women said yesterday they back state Sen. Ernesto Scorsone for Congress because of his stand on women's issues.

State Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo, D-Lexington, hailed Scorsone's record on such issues as health care, patients' rights, and research about and treatment of women's health. Elizabeth Strom, representing the National Organization for Women, cited his support for reproductive health and the battle against domestic violence. "While espousing a monopoly on family values and morality, the Republican-controlled Congress has trod over the rights of women and the needs of families," Strom said. Scorsone, a Democrat, is locked in a tight race with Republican Ernie Fletcher in the race to succeed 6th District Rep.

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