Wednesday, June 11, 2003
Constable arrested on gun charge
By KENNETH HART
The Daily Independent
CATLETTSBURG A Boyd County deputy constable was scheduled to be arraigned this morning on a charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun.
Matthew Lee Blevins, 41, was arrested May 25 at his home on Jarvis Road by Kentucky State Police Trooper James Stephens, according to court records.
The charge is a Class C felony that carries a prison sentence of five to 10 years.
Stephens wrote in the arrest report that he went to the residence to follow up on information he received about Blevins being a convicted felon and owning a handgun.
According to the report, Blevins told Stephens he was in possession of a 9 mm pistol that Constable John Workman gave him after swearing him in as a deputy constable.
Stephens found the weapon on top of the refrigerator in Blevins' home, the report states.
Blevins was convicted of second-degree burglary in April 1981, according to Boyd Circuit Clerk's office. He was placed on probation.
Workman, who was elected in November, said Tuesday that he was not aware of Blevins' background when he chose him as a deputy.
"As far as we knew, everything was OK with him," he said.
Kentucky law permits constables and deputy constables to carry sidearms. However, state law also forbids convicted felons from possessing firearms unless they have been pardoned by the governor or the president, or have been granted special relief by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.
Under the law, felons are not permitted to possess firearms of any type. Violation of the law is a Class D felony, unless the firearm is a handgun, which raises the violation to Class C.
Blevins was lodged in the Boyd County Detention Center following his arrest and released the same day on his own recognizance. His arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. today before Boyd District Judge Gerald Reams.
Constable arrested on gun charge
By KENNETH HART
The Daily Independent
CATLETTSBURG A Boyd County deputy constable was scheduled to be arraigned this morning on a charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun.
Matthew Lee Blevins, 41, was arrested May 25 at his home on Jarvis Road by Kentucky State Police Trooper James Stephens, according to court records.
The charge is a Class C felony that carries a prison sentence of five to 10 years.
Stephens wrote in the arrest report that he went to the residence to follow up on information he received about Blevins being a convicted felon and owning a handgun.
According to the report, Blevins told Stephens he was in possession of a 9 mm pistol that Constable John Workman gave him after swearing him in as a deputy constable.
Stephens found the weapon on top of the refrigerator in Blevins' home, the report states.
Blevins was convicted of second-degree burglary in April 1981, according to Boyd Circuit Clerk's office. He was placed on probation.
Workman, who was elected in November, said Tuesday that he was not aware of Blevins' background when he chose him as a deputy.
"As far as we knew, everything was OK with him," he said.
Kentucky law permits constables and deputy constables to carry sidearms. However, state law also forbids convicted felons from possessing firearms unless they have been pardoned by the governor or the president, or have been granted special relief by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.
Under the law, felons are not permitted to possess firearms of any type. Violation of the law is a Class D felony, unless the firearm is a handgun, which raises the violation to Class C.
Blevins was lodged in the Boyd County Detention Center following his arrest and released the same day on his own recognizance. His arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. today before Boyd District Judge Gerald Reams.