Not guilty plea entered in kidnapping, robbery

Published 12:12 pm Thursday, June 15, 2017

The man accused of kidnapping his grandmother and stealing her car will have a preliminary hearing later this month.

Wednesday afternoon, a judge entered an automatic not guilty plea for 33-year-old Thomas Ballard of 1725 Cole Road.

According to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Ballard allegedly held a knife on Naomi Wingard at her home and forced her to drive him to Montgomery County  June 7.

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Ballard was arrested later that day and charged with first-degree robbery and kidnapping.

Ballard is facing charges from another incident earlier this year when he allegedly stole her car and other property after she was locked in her basement.

His preliminary hearing in that case was scheduled for October, after he was released from jail in April to attend in-patient drug treatment. According to court records, Ballard walked away on April 23.

Ballard is being held on a $75,000 bond in the Clark County Detention Center. His preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 28.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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