Wednesday, April 14, 1999
Bondsmen's arrest attempt broke law
Ohioans needed warrant in Kentucky
BY SUSAN VELA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NEWPORT — Ohio bondsman Kevin Walker should be sentenced to a year in prison and $1,000 in fines for trying to arrest a Kentucky man in 1997 without going through proper channels.
That was the recommendation Tuesday from a Campbell Circuit Court jury that found Mr. Walker guilty of breaking a law that requires out-of-state bondsmen to have a warrant when attempting to arrest someone on out-of-state charges.
The jury also is recommending Mr. Walker pay $250 for misdemeanor convictions of assault and wanton endangerment. They suggested that fellow Ohio bondsman Justin Amyx pay $200 for a conviction of wanton endangerment. Sentencing is May 28.
Mr. Walker, 35, of Sardinia, and Mr. Amyx, 37, of Greenfield, originally faced charges of improper detaining, assault, wanton endangerment, kidnapping and burglary in connection with events Nov. 17, 1997, at the home of Allen Barkley of Newport.
Assistant Campbell Commonwealth Attorney Richard Slukich said Mr. Barkley was in an Ohio jail in spring 1997 on misdemeanor charges. Bondsman Ray Trimble, 81, of Cincinnati put up $21,000 to get him out. When Mr. Barkley failed to appear in court, Mr. Trimble hired Mr. Walker to find him.
Mr. Walker called on Mr. Amyx and Timothy Smith, 35, of Mason to help.
Mr. Smith testified that the trio barged into Mr. Barkley's home with a pistol and stun gun and ordered several children into another room while handcuffing Mr. Barkley.
Newport police arrived and discovered the men were without a warrant.
Mr. Slukich said the trio behaved like renegades.
Defense attorney Ed Tranter cited a Supreme Court ruling that, he said, proved Mr. Amyx and Mr. Walker had a right to do whatever necessary to return Mr. Barkley to Ohio.
Mr. Smith and Mr. Trimble already have pleaded guilty to detaining a person without a Kentucky warrant.
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