Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: Bret D. Crozier Gets 35 Years in 2015 KY Slaying of Albert Hail

  1. #1
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    33,217

    Bret D. Crozier Gets 35 Years in 2015 KY Slaying of Albert Hail

    Montgomery seeking death penalty for Crozier

    By Janie Slaven
    CNHI News Service

    The man facing four indictments stemming from the events occurring over the same October night — leaving one man dead and three others injured — learned officially this week that prosecutors will seek the death penalty against him.

    Bret D. Crozier, 35, of Somerset, appeared before Pulaski Circuit Judge Jeffrey Burdette Thursday to be arraigned for the newest charges against him.

    One indictment involves two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of first-degree robbery and one count of first-degree burglary in connection to the Oct. 24 shootings of 23-year-old Samuei Slores and 24-year-old Diego Martinez at their home on Sycamore Trail in Somerset. That incident occurred around 11 p.m. with both victims being airlifted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center.

    A second indictment stems from the shooting of 44-year-old Ronnie Taylor in the early morning hours of Oct. 25 at a Dahl Road location in Shopville. Charges include one count of first-degree assault and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.

    Both cases will likely be consolidated with two previous indictments charging Crozier with the Oct. 24 fatal shooting of 76-year-old Albert Hail at his Oak Hill Road home and an attempt to elude authorities once Crozier was located around 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 25.

    Crozier was indicted for murder, first-degree burglary and kidnapping an adult and minor whom authorities say were forced to accompany him to Hail’s residence.

    The final indictment was actually the first one that the grand jury returned — stemming from a high-speed pursuit westbound on KY 80 which ended when Crozier crashed his car on Pumphouse Road. Crozier, who had been accompanied by a 17-year-old female and eight-month-old baby, was charged with two counts of first-degree wanton Endangerment, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, first-degree fleeing or evading police, tampering with physical evidence, and operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

    Among the four indictments — which will likely be consolidated — were no less than 14 counts of persistent felony offender.

    Though he had already indicated he would seek the death penalty once Crozier had been charged with murder, Commonwealth’s Attorney Eddy Montgomery gave formal notice to Judge Burdette during Thursday's hearing.

    The defense seemed prepared for the notice with Sandra Brown — a Lexington-based attorney with the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy’s capital trial branch — making her first appearance representing Crozier. Brown replaces local public defender Kenton Lanham and entered not guilty pleas on Crozier’s behalf in all four cases.

    Crozier remains lodged at the Pulaski County Detention Center without bond. His next hearing is scheduled for March 17, when Judge Burdette is expected to set a trial date.

    http://www.richmondregister.com/news...67e742475.html
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

  2. #2
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    33,217
    Accused murderer Crozier no longer facing death penalty

    The Somerset man whose alleged crime spree over the course of one night last October left one man dead and three others injured won a victory of sorts yesterday as the prosecution dropped its bid to seek the death penalty against him.

    Bret D. Crozier, 36, of Conley Drive, appeared before Pulaski Circuit Judge Jeffrey Burdette yesterday for a pre-trial conference during which Commonweath’s Attorney Eddy Montgomery advised that he is taking the death penalty off the table in order to ensure a trial as quickly as possible.

    Crozier is facing trial on four consolidated indictments stemming from events occurring October 24-25. He has been charged with Murder, first-degree Burglary, and Kidnapping (an adult along with an eight-month old child) in connection to the October 24 fatal shooting of 76-year-old Albert Hail at his Oak Hill Road home and forcing the alleged kidnap victims to accompany him to that residence.

    Another indictment involves two counts of first-degree Assault, two counts of first-degree Robbery and one count of first-degree Burglary in connection to the October 24 shootings of 23-year-old Samuei Slores and 24-year-old Diego Martinez at their home on Sycamore Trail in Somerset. That incident occurred around 11 p.m. with both victims being airlifted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center.

    Crozier is then accused of traveling to Shopville where he shot 44-year-old Ronnie Taylor on Dahl Road in the early morning hours of October 25, for which he was charged with first-degree Assault and two counts of first-degree Wanton Endangerment.

    The final indictment was actually the first one that the grand jury returned — stemming from a high-speed pursuit westbound on Ky. 80 which ended when Crozier crashed his car on Pumphouse Road. Crozier, who had been accompanied by a 17-year-old female and eight-month-old baby, was charged with two counts of first-degree Wanton Endangerment, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, first-degree Fleeing or Evading Police, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Operation of a Motor Vehicle under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs.

    Among the four indictments were no less than 14 counts of Persistent Felony Offender.

    Montgomery advised Judge Burdette that he was withdrawing the death penalty notice due to allegations that Crozier has attempted to hire someone to kill at least one of the witnesses expected to testify at trial.

    “It concerns me greatly,” Montgomery said. “I want to get this thing to trial as soon as possible.”

    Judge Burdette asked if additional charges could be pending in light of the allegations, to which the prosecutor responded that he would most likely proceed with only the existing charges.

    “He has so many already,” Montgomery said.

    While no longer seeking the death penalty, Montgomery advised that he is retaining the aggravators which made Crozier eligible for a death sentence — meaning that he could still face life in prison without the possibility of parole or life without parole for 25 years.

    With that, Judge Burdette turned his attention to setting a trial date. Montgomery estimated that the trial would last a week, while defense attorney Sandra Brown told the judge she couldn’t see it taking any less than two given the number of indictments involved.

    Burdette scheduled the trial to begin on January 9.

    Crozier, who had been on parole for a prior conviction and was subsequently revoked, remains lodged in the Kentucky State Reformatory at LaGrange.

    http://www.somerset-kentucky.com/new...7d1f6fab3.html
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

  3. #3
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    33,217
    Crozier’s murder trial moved to May

    A murder trial slated to begin next month has been moved has been moved back to May.

    Bret D. Crozier, 36, of Somerset was among the defendants on Pulaski Circuit Judge Jeffrey Burdette’s docket Thursday morning. He is represented by defense attorney Sandra Brown.

    With the initial trial date scheduled January 9, Crozier’s trial is now set to begin on May 8. He is facing charges from four consolidated indictments stemming from events occurring October 24-25, 2015.

    Crozier has been charged with Murder, first-degree Burglary, and Kidnapping (an adult along with an eight-month old child) in connection to the October 24 fatal shooting of 76-year-old Albert Hail at his Oak Hill Road home and forcing the alleged kidnap victims to accompany him to that residence.

    Another indictment involves two counts of first-degree Assault, two counts of first-degree Robbery and one count of first-degree Burglary in connection to the October 24 shootings of 23-year-old Samuei Slores and 24-year-old Diego Martinez at their home on Sycamore Trail in Somerset. That incident occurred around 11 p.m. with both victims being airlifted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center.

    Crozier is then accused of traveling to Shopville where he shot 44-year-old Ronnie Taylor on Dahl Road in the early morning hours of October 25, for which he was charged with first-degree Assault and two counts of first-degree Wanton Endangerment.

    The final indictment was actually the first one that the grand jury returned — stemming from a high-speed pursuit westbound on Ky. 80 which ended when Crozier crashed his car on Pumphouse Road. Crozier, who had been accompanied by a 17-year-old female and eight-month-old baby, was charged with two counts of first-degree Wanton Endangerment, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, first-degree Fleeing or Evading Police, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Operation of a Motor Vehicle under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs.

    Among the four indictments — which will likely be consolidated — were no less than 14 counts of Persistent Felony Offender.

    While Commonwealth’s Attorney Eddy Montgomery advised the court in July that he wouldn’t be seeking the death penalty for Crozier but that he is retaining the same aggravators which leaves the defendant facing life in prison without the possibility of parole or life without parole for 25 years.

    Crozier, who had been on parole for a prior conviction and was subsequently revoked, is serving out that sentence at the Little Sandy Correctional Complex in Sandy Hook.

    He is next scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial conference on March 16.

    In other news, another defendant appearing yesterday before Judge Burdette for an unrelated incident has been ordered to make himself available for the Crozier trial as a potential prosecutorial witness.

    Gregory S. Miller, 57, of Somerset is under indictment for first-degree Burglary and two counts of first-degree Wanton Endangerment in connection to an August 18 home invasion in the Cardinal Hills Subdivision.

    According to Somerset Police, Miller allegedly approached the home of Josh Godby armed with a loaded 20-gauge shotgun. The homeowner’s 10-year-old son, who was in the backyard, gave Miller access to the home, then ran to a neighbor’s house to call 911.

    Miller reportedly got into a struggle with Godby while inside the house. During the struggle, the shotgun went off — hitting the ceiling — but the homeowner was able to physically subdue Miller until SPD units arrived. An empty shell was recovered at the scene.

    Miller’s case was continued until January 19. Represented by defense attorney James Cox, he is currently lodged at the Pulaski County Detention Center.

    http://www.somerset-kentucky.com/new...d7b79a39f.html
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

  4. #4
    Administrator Moh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    13,014
    Man on trial for murder wants to replace his attorney

    By JANIE SLAVEN
    The Commonwealth Journal

    A Somerset man accused of murder among several other felonies has filed a motion seeking to have his attorney replaced.

    In the document filed with Pulaski Circuit Court on Monday, 36-year-old Bret D. Crozier accuses his appointed attorney, Sandra Downs, of not handling his case as a priority.

    Crozier is facing multiple felony charges from four consolidated indictments stemming from events occurring over the night of October 24-25, 2015. He has been charged with Murder, first-degree Burglary, and two counts of Kidnapping in connection to the October 24 fatal shooting of 76-year-old Albert Hail at his Oak Hill Road home and forcing the alleged kidnap victims to accompany him to that residence.

    Another indictment involves two counts of first-degree Assault, two counts of first-degree Robbery and one count of first-degree Burglary in connection to the October 24 shootings of 23-year-old Samuei Slores and 24-year-old Diego Martinez at their home on Sycamore Trail in Somerset. That incident occurred around 11 p.m. with both victims being airlifted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center.

    Crozier is then accused of traveling to Shopville where he shot 44-year-old Ronnie Taylor on Dahl Road in the early morning hours of October 25, for which he was charged with first-degree Assault and two counts of first-degree Wanton Endangerment.

    The final indictment was actually the first one that the grand jury returned — stemming from a high-speed pursuit westbound on Ky. 80 which ended when Crozier crashed his car on Pumphouse Road. Crozier, who had been accompanied by a 17-year-old female and eight-month-old baby, was charged with two counts of first-degree Wanton Endangerment, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, first-degree Fleeing or Evading Police, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Operation of a Motor Vehicle under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs.

    Among the four indictments were no less than 14 counts of Persistent Felony Offender.

    Crozier, who had been on parole for a prior conviction and which was subsequently revoked, has been moved from Pulaski County Detention Center to the Little Sandy Correctional Complex in Sandy Hook to serve out the rest of that sentence.

    In the pending case, Commonwealth’s Attorney Eddy Montgomery is seeking aggravators that could leave Crozier facing life in prison without the possibility of parole, and the defendant alleges in his motion that Montgomery “recently threatened to reinstate an intention to seek the death penalty.”

    Downs — who directs the Capital Trial Branch of the Department of Public Advocacy — was appointed to the case in January 2016 after local public defender Kenton Lanham left to become a prosecutor.

    According to his motion, Crozier claims he has only met briefly with Downs — not at all since he’s been lodged at the Little Sandy Correctional Complex — and spoken to her “only a few times by phone. Her “health problems and her responsibilities and case load” prevent her from making his case a top priority, he wrote.

    Last month, Downs asked to continue Crozier’s trial which had been initially set to begin January 9 but has since been moved to May 8.

    “Given the demands on her time and her past performance, the Defendant believes attorney Downs will not be able to properly prepare and present a meaningful defense on his behalf,” Crozier wrote.

    Crozier also claims that Downs, to his knowledge, has not moved for a change of venue, bond reduction, mental evaluation for him, or “all discoverable material from the prosecution.” He further claims that taking his case out of Public Advocacy’s Somerset office deprived him of “local attorneys who are ‘death’ qualified and who know the community.”

    In closing, Crozier is asking Circuit Judge Jeffrey Burdette to release Downs from his case and grant new counsel.

    “The Defendant has too much at stake — the rest of his life — to depend on an attorney who is either unable or unwilling to prepare for trial,” he wrote.

    Burdette has scheduled a hearing in the matter for January 19.

    http://www.somerset-kentucky.com/new...4e44dd95a.html

  5. #5
    Senior Member CnCP Legend Mike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    4,795

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •