Driver indicted for I-64 crash

Published 10:20 am Friday, December 6, 2019

A Lexington man was indicted on multiple felony charges for a crash earlier this year that injured two people.

Mutombo Mbaya, 27, was driving east on Interstate 64 on Sept. 26 when he lost control after passing a truck, according to witnesses.

Mbaya’s vehicle went through the median near exit 101 and overturned several times before entering the westbound lanes.

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The car then collided with a westbound van, driven by Leron M. Washington of Huntington, West Virginia.

Washington was extricated from the van by firefighters, and Mbaya was flown from the scene to the hospital.

Mbaya was indicted for second-degree assault, two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment for the passengers in the van, driving on a suspended operator’s license, failure to register transfer of motor vehicle and failure to maintain insurance.

The grand jury also indicted a man for allegedly breaking into a home, removing his clothes and refusing to leave.

Carlos A. Cruz-Dominguez, 26, was indicted second-degree burglary and first-degree indecent exposure for the incident at a residence on Stamper Drive in October. When officers arrived, they said Cruz-Dominguez had locked himself in the bathroom and refused to put his clothes on. He was arrested but was released from jail after posting a $5,000 bond.

Days later, Cruz-Dominguez was arrested again after fighting with five officers at Clark Regional Medical Center. Officers said he became irate and was cursing people in the emergency room. He reportedly charged toward the officers and fought with them while he was being arrested.

He was indicted for second-degree burglary, first-degree indecent exposure and five counts of third-degree assault.

The Clark County grand jury returned the following indictments Thursday.

— Darren S. Gentry, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (two counts).

— Mitchell S. Griffith, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (two counts), first-degree persistent felony offender.

— Desmond D. Smith, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (three counts).

— Alessandro M. English, driving under the influence (fourth offense), rear license not illuminated, no or expired registration plate, faiure to maintain insurance, possession of open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, failure to produce insurance card, no or expired registration receipt, no tail lamps.

— Steven Stumbo, receiving stolen property – firearm, convicted felon in possession of a handgun, driving on a DUI-suspended operator’s license (second offense), possession of drug paraphernalia, second-degree persistent felony offender.

— Joshua D. Saylor, driving under the influence, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, failure to maintain insurance, failure to wear seat belt, third-degree possession of a controlled substance, prescription controlled substance not in proper container, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first-degree promoting contraband, second-degree persistent felony offender.

— Ricky D. Beard, driving under the influence, reckless driving, first-degree wanton endangerment, possession of open container of alcohol in motor vehicle.

— Malik Kenney, trafficking in a controlled substance, third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, second-degree persistent felony offender.

— Shammah Israel, failure to or improper signal, driving on a suspended operator’s license, resisting arrest, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, driving under the influence, first-degree persistent felony offender.

— Sherri L. Thornberry, tampering with a prisoner monitoring device.

— Rhonda J. Evans and Dennis D. Pinckney, failure to produce insurance card, no brake lights, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (two counts), tampering with physical evidence, fraudulent use of ID card for benefits.

— Ricky L. Carpenter, failure to or improper signal, possession of a defaced firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, first-degree persistent felony offender.

— Tait Parish, fraudulent use of ID card for benefits, first-degree persistent felony offender.

— Jason Wakeley, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, driving on a suspended operator’s license, failure to or improper signal.

— William Gross, driving on a suspended operator’s license, first-degree promoting contraband.

The following cases were dismissed by the grand jury.

— Roni M. Coffey, contempt of court.

— Joshua S. Charles, first-degree assault.

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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