May 18, 2012

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NEWS: A Dearborn County Fire and EMS Study Group Meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 24, on the third floor Commissioner Room of the Dearborn County Administration Building, 215B W. High St., Lawrenceburg. This meeting is open to the public.

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Stephenson held without bail

The Kentucky man facing murder and robbery charges in an Aurora woman's death was ordered held without bail Thursday, May 17, by Dearborn Circuit Court Judge James Humphrey.

Humphrey entered a plea of not guilty for Charles Robert “Steve” Stephenson, 58, Walton, and set an omnibus and pretrial hearing for 8:30 a.m. Monday, July 2. Stephenson said his only income is a monthly $650 retirement payment and he has no cash or retirement account. He said he had been self employed in sales but was not now.

Humphrey asked if any relatives have offered to hire an attorney for Stephenson.

“There is talk and I don't know at this point, sir,” replied Stephenson. Humphrey then ordered an attorney be appointed for Stephenson but took under advisement whom he would appoint as Stephenson's attorney. Humphrey said the appointment should be made by the beginning of next week.

Stephenson, who was composed and polite during the initial hearing, is accused of killing Leigh Jennings, 67, on Thursday, March 29, according to the affidavit of probable cause by Indiana State Police Det. Tracy Rohlfing. Stephenson appeared in court in orange jail garb and wrist and ankle cuffs.

Jennings' body was found in her apartment, 107B Aspen Ridge, Thursday, April 5, said the affidavit. The cause of death was blunt force trauma from a pepper grinder and a heavy skillet, said Dearborn County Prosecutor Aaron Negangard previously. DNA evidence on the pepper grinder links Stephenson to the scene, he said.

Negangard also said the motive for Jennings' death appeared to be Stephenson's financial problems.

At Thursday's hearing, Negangard said Stephenson was convicted of shoplifting in 1992 and faces charges of trafficking in a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence in Boone County, Ky.

The possible penalties for murder are 45 to 65 years imprisonment, with an advisory of 55 years, and up to a $10,000 fine, said Humphrey. For robbery, a Class A Felony, possible penalties are 20 to 50 years imprisonment with an advisory of 30 years, and up to a $10,000 fine, he said.

 

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