Dollar General robbery, kidnap case postponed 

Published 12:29 pm Thursday, January 5, 2017

Two Powell County residents charged with kidnapping a store manager during a theft will wait another week to see what happens in their case. 

James Mahan and Charlotte Smith are both charged with second-degree robbery and kidnapping from a Nov. 3 incident at the Dollar General on West Lexington Avenue in Winchester.

According to court documents, the pair were inside the store when employees saw them placing items in a large bag. An unidentified employee followed them outside the store. When he confronted the suspects, Mahan allegedly started punching the employee while Smith got in the driver’s seat of a car. She reportedly started driving with Mahan and the employee in the car.

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According to the arrest warrant, Smith said they would take the employee to her brother’s house and kill him. The employee escaped by opening the car door when it slowed on Lexington Avenue. The car continued. The victim was treated and released from Clark Regional Medical Center.

Mahan, 34, and Smith, 29, were arrested Nov. 30 by the Powell County Sheriff’s Office, according to court records. Both are being held on a $100,000 cash bond in the Clark County Detention Center.

Wednesday, a judge continued their preliminary hearings until Jan. 11 while defense attorneys gathered more information.

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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