|
|
Published March 09, 2009 07:55 am - Nearly three years after being taken into custody on two murder charges Dustin Asher may be free within just a short time.
3-year old murder case ends with plea
BURTON SPEAKMAN
Glasgow Daily Times
BOWLING GREEN
—
Nearly three years after being taken into custody on two murder charges Dustin Asher may be free within just a short time.
Asher, 32, of Glasgow, pleaded guilty Thursday in Warren Circuit Court to two counts of tampering with physical evidence. He received a five year sentence.
Based on the parole laws Asher should be eligible for parole immediately or nearly immediately, said Pat Renn, of Louisville, his attorney.
Asher maintained his innocence throughout the case. He was able to pass a polygraph administerd by a former FBI agent that neither he nor Freeman was the shooter, Renn said.
Asher and Lonnie Freeman, 40, originally of Etoile, were both charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence in the July 2005 deaths of Daniel Froedge, 38, of Park City, and Kelly O. Johnson, 32, of Smiths Grove. Froedge’s and Johnson’s burned bodies where found on July 28, 2005, inside a truck on a gravel road near Scottsville. Freeman entered an Alford Plea to two counts of facilitation to murder and being a first-degree persistent felony offender Monday in Warren Circuit Court. He received a 12-year sentence that will run concurrently to a federal weapons sentence Freeman is currently serving.
The case was tried in 2006 in Allen County and ended in a hung jury. The retrial was moved to Warren County due to publicity before, during and after the initial trial.
The plea hearing had been moved up to Thursday from Friday when it had been scheduled to ensure a number of witnesses who had to come to Bowling Green on Friday if Asher decided not to plea would be available, said Clint Willis, commonwealth’s attorney for Allen and Simpson counties.
Johnson’s sister, Jessica Xaysana, of Bowling Green, arrived Friday at the courthouse hoping to have a chance to speak at the hearing.
Freeman’s sentence was not long enough, Xaysana said.
“If this had been the commonwealth’s attorney’s family, I don’t think they would have accepted this,” she said. “Even if these two men didn’t kill my brother, they know who did.”
Johnson’s family was not made aware of either Monday’s plea hearing for Freeman or the change to Thursday for Asher’s plea.
Willis said the changes were made quickly to ensure that Asher would plead and there would not be a problem at the motion hearing scheduled for Friday if Asher changed his mind.
“I told our victim advocate to do a lot of things. I can’t say for sure if all of them got done,” he said.
Xaysana was not on the commonwealth’s list of people who would be contacted. The contact for Johnson’s family was his mother, Willis said.
Johnson’s mother also believed the plea hearing was supposed to take place Friday, Xaysana said. She believed the hearing time was changed abruptly specifically so the victim’s families could not attend.
|
|

 |
|
GILLIE HYDE FORD IS LOOKING FOR FULL TIME POSITION
for the parts department. Prior parts experience is highly preferred but not necessary. Please see www.gilliehyde.com ...>MORE
SISTER SCHUBERT'S HOMEMADE ROLLS IS A NATIONALLY
recognized food manufacturing company. We are seeking candidates for the following positions at our production facility ...>MORE
LOCAL COMPANY LOOKING TO HIRE CDL DRIVER.
Class B, HAZ-MAT, endorsement. Good pay and benefits. Fax resume to 678-9407.
...>MORE
COURIER JOURNAL HAS MOTOR ROUTE CARRIR POSITION AVAILABLE.
So. Barren/Allen Co. Scottsville area. 7 days per week, early morning hours approximate gross monthly profit $1,500. Rou...>MORE
TEMP TO PERM INDUSTRIAL OPENINGS
in Glasgow area. Drug screen required. Must be able to work all shifts. Good pay with health insurance available. Apply ...>MORE
See all ads |
|
CRUISE BIKE, 2006 HONDA VTX,
1300cc, 14,442 miles, silver, garage kept, excellent condition. $8,000.00 OBO. 270-579-6956. Will send photo upon reques...>MORE
2001 FORD ESCORT, 160 ZX2, 2 DR., AUTO, AIR,
leather, moonroof, 120k, red & ready. $3,500 OBO. 670-7557....>MORE
95 CHEVY LUMINA, 78K, NEW TIRES, 1 OWNER
$2,995. 01 Mercury Merquis LS, loaded, 77k, nice. $5,900. (270) 590-2789....>MORE
LOOKING FOR A GREAT AUTO DEAL?.....
Looking to buy or sell? Check here for the Premium Auto Section. You can post an ad with unlimited text and ...>MORE
2009 NISSAN ROGUE S, 16,000 MILES. STILL UNDER
Factory warranty. Must sell. 270-590-1440....>MORE
See all ads |
|
3 BR, 2 BA IN HAYWOOD AREA.
Fenced backyard, basement w/2 car garage, family room, storage. $120,000. Reasonable offers considered. 270-646-4496. ...>MORE
2 BR, 2 BA DUPLEX, GARAGE, OAK CABINETS,
$550 month, $400 deposit. Energy efficient, very nice. 579-1955 or 404-1953.
...>MORE
LAKEVIEW APTS. FIRST MONTH RENT $99
1 & 2 BR’s for rent, $400-1 BR, $480-2 BR Modern kitchen appliances including: stove, d/w, fridge & garbage dispos...>MORE
2 BR, 2 BA APARTMENT
in beautifully restored Victorian house, ground floor, 211 E. Main, corner of Lewis. Available Feb. 15. Call for more in...>MORE
NEW 2 BR APARTMENT W/DISHWASHER.
$375 mo. 2nd floor, $450 mo. ground floor, 1 yr. lease. Avail. Feb. 1st. 834-0299.
...>MORE
WANTED TO LEASE OR RENT, SMALL FARM
529-9482....>MORE
2 BR MOBILE HOME, $360-$385 MO.
Plus deposit & utilities. Small mobile home park. Accepts HUD. 270-202-9148 or 529-9148. Leave message....>MORE
FOR SALE OR RENT. 214 LEE ST.
Glasgow. For Details visit www.leofrank.net...>MORE
2 BR DUPLEX, WASHER/DRYER HOOKUP, STOVE, REFRIG. DW,
stove, refrig., d/w, disp., attic storage, deck, C/H/A. $375 mo. $375 deposit. Ref. required. Service animals only. 270-...>MORE
2 BR, 1 BA, C/H/A W/D HOOK-UP, DECK, MOWING PROVIDED
100B Terrace. www.post-web.net. $400 Mo. + dep. 270-361-2767 or 707-887-7429....>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|