Wednesday, September 13, 2006
A Bevinsville Man Accused of Murder asks for a Bond Reduction
Whitesburg - A Bevinsville man accused of Murder and Kidnapping in Floyd County had his motion for a bond reduction denied today by a special Judge in Letcher County. Attorneys for 47 year old Billy Joe Johnson filed two motions today, one asking for his bond to be reduced from 1 million dollars full cash, which was denied by Letcher County circuit Judge Sam Wright. Johnson’s attorneys also asked that the case be dismissed on the grounds of failing to provide a speedy trial a motion which was also denied by Judge Wright. Johnson was arrested in March 2005 and charged with assault, murder, kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment in the death of 27 year old Michael Stone. Stone was found shot to death on an abandoned strip mine road in Knott County on Aug. 4, 2003. Commonwealths attorney Brent turner told EKB news that they expect the trial to begin sometime in December or January. Johnson is also facing charges in federal court, related to an insurance fraud scheme, Peter has more on that.
Pikeville - According to the federal indictment released in August, Billy Joe Johnson and eight others staged four traffic accidents between January 2001 and February 2004, sometimes using multiple vehicles. They would then make false statements to police and the insurance companies. In exchange for helping the auto owner stage the accident, the others would get a cut of the insurance money or receive medical treatment. They would lie about their injuries and the way the accident occurred, the indictment says.
It is unclear how much money the nine made through the alleged bogus crash scheme. It was the second time in eight months that Billy Joe Johnson has been charged in connection with insurance fraud. In January, a grand jury indicted Johnson and three others on charges that they set a house on fire in 2002 to collect $72,000 in insurance money, charges which are still pending.
Pikeville - According to the federal indictment released in August, Billy Joe Johnson and eight others staged four traffic accidents between January 2001 and February 2004, sometimes using multiple vehicles. They would then make false statements to police and the insurance companies. In exchange for helping the auto owner stage the accident, the others would get a cut of the insurance money or receive medical treatment. They would lie about their injuries and the way the accident occurred, the indictment says.
It is unclear how much money the nine made through the alleged bogus crash scheme. It was the second time in eight months that Billy Joe Johnson has been charged in connection with insurance fraud. In January, a grand jury indicted Johnson and three others on charges that they set a house on fire in 2002 to collect $72,000 in insurance money, charges which are still pending.
# posted by Justin Mullins @ 3:28 PM 
