A three-day trial for a former Corbin Police Officer and one-time Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy and his son ended prior to a jury verdict Monday afternoon.
Tony Anthony Ramey, 50, and his son, Perry Anthony Ramey, 32, had been standing trial in Whitley Circuit Court since Thursday on charges of first-degree robbery and second-degree assault. Perry Ramey is also charged with theft by deception over $300.
Perry Ramey stole a pistol from his father in 2007, and sold it to Christopher Dalton Brewer for $300 cash.
Tony Ramey was accused of pistol whipping Brewer on June 13, 2007, when he and Perry went to Brewer’s residence in an attempt to get the gun back.
At the time, Tony Ramey was a card carrying Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy and told Brewer that he was under arrest. He also allegedly threatened to kill him.
Shortly after the prosecution rested its case late Monday morning, defense attorneys made routine motions for a directed verdict of not guilty on all the charges.
Special Judge Ron Johnson agreed to dismiss the robbery charge against Tony Ramey noting that there had been no proof that he intended to go to Brewer’s residence that day to rob him.
Soon after the lunch break, attorneys for both sides and Johnson returned to the courtroom and announced that a plea agreement had been reached.
Both Tony Ramey and Perry Ramey pleaded guilty to assault under extreme emotional disturbance in exchange for prosecutors recommending a five-year prison sentence for each man — the maximum sentence for the class ‘D’ felony.
Perry Ramey also pleaded guilty to an amended charge of theft by deception under $500, which is a class ‘A’ misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months in jail.
Prosecutors plan to oppose probation requests by both men, but Johnson indicated he would likely order Tony Ramey to serve his time on home incarceration due to his background.
Ramey served 20 years in the U.S. Navy before retiring and served several years as a police officer. He has no prior criminal record.
Johnson indicated that it is very unlikely he will grant probation for Perry Ramey.
