Prosecutors have recommended a one-year prison sentence for a Williamsburg man, who allegedly told police, “I’m federal! I’m federal! I’m DEA! I work for the DEA!” when Williamsburg police questioned him on Feb. 28 in a church cemetery prior to his arrest on alcohol and other charges.
Roger Duncan, 43, was indicted by information earlier this month on a charge of impersonating a peace officer in connection with the incident.
Williamsburg Police Officer Dorman Patrick Jr. arrested Duncan after receiving a call from Briar Creek Church about a man allegedly drinking in a public place.
“The caller said the man was screaming and yelling. Upon arrival, the caller pointed the male out to me, who I found behind a tombstone,” Patrick wrote.
Patrick identified the man as Duncan, who had a large can of Busch ICE beer, and allegedly admitted to drinking. Patrick reportedly smelled the odor of alcohol coming from Duncan’s breath, and Duncan’s eyes were glossy, red and blood shot, according to the arrest citation.
Felony cases get to circuit court in one of two ways. The most common way is that evidence is presented to a grand jury, which issues an indictment against an individual.
The second way is indictment by information. An indictment by information is an expedited way to resolve criminal cases more quickly and it involves the defendant and the prosecutor reaching an agreement on the criminal charge(s) against a defendant.
It also usually, but not always, involves a plea agreement with prosecutors in regards to the charges and a recommended sentence in the case.
Colin Powers, 21, of Williamsburg, was indicted by information in March in a pair of cases.
He was indicted by information on a charge of theft by unlawful taking value at least $1,000 but less than $10,000 for the taking of an iPhone in connection with a June 3, 2024, incident.
He was also indicted by information on a charge of first-degree bail jumping for failing to appear at the Whitley County Judicial Center on Dec. 2, 2024, on felony charges pursuant to the terms of his bail bond.
Prosecutors recommended a one-year prison sentence in each case to be served consecutively (one after the other) for a total of two years.
According to court documents, the following other cases were resolved via indictment by information in Whitley Circuit Court during the month of March.
- Andy Lewis, 48, of Williamsburg – second-offense first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). Prosecutors recommended a one-year prison sentence.
- Joshua Taylor, 27, of Williamsburg – two counts of first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine and heroin). Prosecutors recommended a total prison sentence of two years and one day.
- Johnathan Douglas, 33, of Williamsburg – third-degree assault – inmate on correctional employee (head butted deputy jailer). Prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of two years and one day.
- Sammy Smith, 53, of Rockholds – possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of two years and one day.
- Donna Helton, 49, of Corbin – first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). Prosecutors recommended a one-year prison sentence.
- Caleb King, 24, of Corbin – first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine). Prosecutors recommended a two-year prison sentence.
- Austin Boden, 19, of Corbin – receiving stolen property value at least $1,000 but less than $10,000 (2015 Kia Soul). Prosecutors recommended a five-year probated prison sentence. A probated sentence means that if a defendant stays out of trouble during their probation period then they won’t have to serve any additional jail or prison time.
- Teddy Isaac, 45, of Williamsburg – first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). Prosecutors recommended a probated two-year prison sentence.
- Patricia Hensley, 36 of Gray – two counts of first-degree possession of a controlled substance (drug unspecified and hydrocodone). Prosecutors recommended a two-year prison sentence to be probated after six months are served. Hensley can receive day-for-day credit in a long-term rehab facility instead of serving jail time.
- Margaret Yancy, 39, of Pine Knot – first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). Prosecutors recommended a probated two-year prison sentence to be served consecutively (one after the other) with her McCreary County case.
- Michael Dale Costello, 36, of Crystal River, Florida – first-degree possession of a controlled substance (heroin). Prosecutors recommended a two-year pre-trial diversion. Pretrial diversions often, but not always, allow for charges to be wiped from a defendant’s record at the conclusion of their diversion period.
- Michael Keith Costello, 60, of Crystal River, Florida – first-degree possession of a controlled substance (cocaine). Prosecutors recommended a two-year pre-trial diversion.
