Anthony Cloud

Staff Writer

For a second time, the final sentencing for Juanita and Jesse Hall has been postponed due to the illness of Jesse Hall. The two were originally scheduled to be sentenced in Bell Circuit Court in December, but was postponed because Jesse Hall was in the hospital.

The new trial date for the Halls has been set for 9 a.m. on Feb. 15. Both individuals pleaded guilty to all of the charges placed against them.

Juanita Hall was charged with five counts of theft of labor in excess of $500, six counts of diversion of charitable gaming funds for financial benefit, theft by failure to make required disposition over $500, theft by deception over $10,000 and theft by failure to make required disposition over $10,000.

Jesse Hall was charged with six counts of diversion of charitable gaming funds for financial benefit over $300, three counts of theft by failure to make required disposition over $500 and one count of theft by failure to make required disposition over $10,000.

For the five counts of theft of labor, Commonwealth’s Attorney Karen Greene Blondell recommended Juanita Hall serve five years in the penitentiary, that such sentences be probated and the defendant serve five years of supervised probation.

Blondell made the same recommendations for the remaining charges for Juanita Hall. Each sentence will run concurrently.

The commonwealth recommended that Jesse Hall serve five years in the penitentiary and 90 days in the Bell County Detention Center under all counts, that such sentences be probated and he be on supervised probation for five years.

The Halls would also be responsible for restitution as well.

In other court action on Monday:

* Tammy Michele Givens pleaded guilty to second-degree complicity to commit burglary, second-degree unlawful transaction with a minor and endangering the welfare of a minor. She was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary for the burglary and unlawful transaction charge. She was sentenced to 12 months in the Bell County Detention Center on the endangerment charge;

* Matthew Buell pleaded guilty to marijuana possession and criminal attempt to manufacture methamphetamine. He was sentenced to eight years in the penitentiary on the meth charge and 90 days in the Bell County Detention Center on the marijuana charge;

* Mary Traxler pleaded guilty to the charge of trafficking in marijuana five or more pounds, cultivation of marijuana and trafficking in marijuana less than 8 ounces. She was sentenced to 90 days in the Bell County Detention Center on each charge. For the remainder of the sentence, she will be placed on supervised probation for five years.

* Jeremy Traxler pleaded guilty to the charge of trafficking in marijuana five or more pounds, cultivation of marijuana and trafficking in marijuana less than 8 ounces. He was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary for the trafficking and cultivation of marijuana five or more pounds and 12 months in the Bell County Detention Center on the 8 ounce marijuana charge. If the sentence is probated, he shall be placed on supervised probation for five years.

Anthony Cloud can be reached via email at acloud@civitasmedia.com or by phone at 606-248-1010, ext. 208.