BY JANE PRENDERGAST
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON -- The first Kenton County defendant in years to face the death penalty says he's not guilty.
Freddie Scott Furnish entered his plea Monday in Kenton Circuit Court. He is accused of murder, burglary and robbery in the June death of Jean Williamson.
Commonwealth Attorney Don Buring is seeking the death penalty, saying the burglary and robbery are aggravating circumstances. The last several times execution was a possible penalty in Northern Kentucky's largest county, jurors didn't use it.
A jury spared the life of Thurman Richard Hitch, who pleaded guilty to rape and murder in the death of Fanny Forte in July 1993. He was sentenced to life in prison instead.
Another jury sent Carlos Faulkner behind bars for life. Execution was also a possibility for him when he was convicted of killing Lesly Briede in Fort Wright in 1992.
The last person sentenced to death from Kenton County was Gregory Wilson, convicted of the 1987 murder, rape and robbery of Covington resident Deborah Pooley. His execution has been delayed pending appeals.
Mr. Furnish, 30, of Forest Avenue in Covington was indicted 10 days ago. The grand jury also returned indictments for theft, receiving goods and services obtained by fraud -- for allegedly taking more than $100 with Mrs. Williamson's credit or debit card -- and for being a persistent felony offender.
His convictions include burglary and escape in 1989 and assault in 1996.
After court, he was returned to the jail, where he will stay without bail.
His public defender did not ask for bail to be set.
