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Seven arrested in Elizabethtown as part of ATM theft investigation

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An investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies looking into several thefts from ATMs has resulted in several arrests.

“Early Wednesday morning, we arrested seven suspects in connection with the unlawful entry into an ATM machine,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “All suspects have been charged with Engaging in Organized Crime for their roles in the coordinated criminal syndicate.”

The arrested individuals are: Argenis Balmaceda Aldana, Christian Fereira Balmaceda, Jose Duque Fuentes, Elidiuska Parra Gomez, Jaider Ruiz Jimenez, Wimary Riovo Paul, and Luis Flores Rincon.

“This group is also responsible for similar crimes across multiple surrounding jurisdictions, and the investigation remains ongoing in collaboration with regional law enforcement partners,” Denham said.

The uniform citations for the suspects from the Hardin County Detention Center state: “The syndicate involves at least four vehicles, three of which were located in Brandenburg, Kentucky; the fourth was located by Louisville Metro PD in Jefferson County.” The citations state that each vehicle contained evidence linking the group to multiple crimes.

Each of the suspects are being held in the detention center on $150,000 cash bonds, and are due to make court appearances Thursday through Monday.

Prosecution questions Houck’s expert disclosures

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Crystal Rogers investigation suspect Brooks Houck is scheduled to make another court appearance next week.

The commonwealth’s attorney’s office will be presenting a motion in the case before the Nelson Circuit Court on Thursday, May 8.

According to a notice filed by Special Prosecutor Shane Young on Wednesday, the prosecution is requesting a hearing on the defendant’s expert disclosures. The notice states that the Commonwealth contends that three of the four disclosures do not comply with the requirements set in Kentucky Rules of Criminal Procedure “in that they fail to provide the bases and reasons for the expert’s opinions provided in the written summary by defense counsel.”

Houck’s defense filed a response Wednesday in which they objected to the motion. The response states “Each expert in question has reviewed the underlying facts and data supplied by the Commonwealth and has formed delineated opinions by analyzing the applicable information based upon their training, knowledge, and experience in their respective fields.”

Houck, who is charged with Murder and Tampering with Physical Evidence, is scheduled to go to trial in Warren County on June 24. He will be tried alongside Joseph Lawson, who is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Tampering with Physical Evidence. Steven Lawson, who faces the same charges as his son, is scheduled to go to trial on May 27.

Virtual job fair open to all job seekers coming up on May 6

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Kentucky Career Center – Lincoln Trail invites all area job seekers to participate in their May “Let’s Talk Tuesdays” online job fair, which will be held from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6.

There is no cost to participate. Job seekers are encouraged to pre-register ahead of the event.

“Job seekers have to sign in, so you want to go to LTCareerCenter.org/JobFair and go ahead and register,” said Kentucky Career Center – Lincoln Trail Center Manager Robin Gooden. “Be prepared to upload your resume as a PDF on that platform, and then you can be ready to talk with employers.”

Job seekers who would like assistance with their resume or interview practice ahead of the job fair may contact the Kentucky Career Center or visit the center nearest you, with locations in Bardstown, Elizabethtown, Fort Knox, Lebanon, and Leitchfield. Find more information on the job fair, along with other job fairs and workshop opportunities, on the Kentucky Career Center – Lincoln Trail Facebook page and website.

Ozone Season runs now through end of September in Bullitt County

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It’s the first day of May, which means it is the first day of Ozone Season in Bullitt County.

During Ozone Season, the outdoor burning of brush, tree limbs, leaves, and natural growth from land clearing is restricted in counties that have at one time or another exceeded air quality standards for ozone or particulate matter pollution. Burning is prohibited from May 1 through September 30 in order to help protect families and improve air quality.

According to the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, ozone is protective when it occurs high in the stratosphere, but ground-level ozone is a summertime health risk that irritates breathing passages and can trigger asthma attacks. Ground-level ozone is created when pollutants chemically react in the atmosphere in the presence of heat and sunlight.

The Energy and Environment Cabinet says Ozone Season restrictions are not the same as burn bans, which counties declare during times of extreme wildfire hazard. The burning of trash at any time of year is illegal in all counties, and state law prohibits the outdoor burning of many materials such as plastics and tires. Visit the Energy and Environment Cabinet on the web for more information on burning restrictions.