Couple faces indictment for abuse; men indicted for theft at home

SHEPHERDSVILLE - A couple has been indicted for neglecting two children and three men were indicted for burglarizing the initial couple’s home.

The Bullitt County Grand Jury has indicted Kelly M. Porter, 28, and Steven William Morris, 43, on two counts of complicity to criminal abuse.

According to the indictment, the two allowed a 6- and an 11-year-old youngster to be placed in a situation where they were in extreme danger on July 6, 2009.

Det. Scotty McGaha of the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Department said that a call came into dispatch about two youngsters walking down West Blue Lick Road and Chillicoop Road.

When picked up and interviewed, the youngsters talked about being beaten by Morris with a belt.

When Morris passed out asleep downstairs and Porter when to sleep upstairs, the two children gathered items such birth certificates, a hammer, a broken light bulb, pillows and blankets and left the home.

The children were taken into care by the state and then released to a grandmother.

The charges are Class C felonies punishable by 5-10 years in prison.

The panel also indicted Joshua L. Cook, Morgan D. Barrow and Michael P. Haynes for complicity to burglary.

According to the indictment, the three men allegedly broke into the home of Porter on July 7, 2009. The alleged break-in happened after Porter and Morris were taken into custody.

The Class C felony is punishable by 5-10 years in prison.

Det. Mike Cook of the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case.

An indictment does not mean guilt or innocence. It only means that at least nine of the 12 grand jurors felt there was enough evidence to move forward with a case.