Different court experiences for I-70 suspect trio

Three Kentuckians arrested earlier this week after their car was stopped for speeding in Putnam County made Thanksgiving-eve court appearances with differing results.

When their eastbound 2003 Pontiac was clocked at 90 mph and stopped four miles west of Cloverdale Tuesday morning, all three Paducah, Ky., suspects -- driver Robert Moss, 33, and two passengers, Ashley Cavitt, 24, and Charles Rodgers, 23 -- were reportedly held on the same charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a synthetic drug and unlawful possession of a syringe(s).

However, appearing before Judge Denny Bridges in Putnam Superior Court Wednesday afternoon, their individual experiences proved about as varied as your choice of holiday casseroles.

Cavitt now faces the most serious charges, four counts in all -- possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a synthetic drug, possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a syringe(s). The latter two are Level 6 felonies that carry a sentence range of six months to 2-1/2 years in jail each.

Moss, meanwhile, faces charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a synthetic drug and maintaining a common nuisance. The latter is a Level 6 felony that carries a sentence range of six months to 2-1/2 years.

Rogers, however, is only charged with two misdemeanors, possession of a synthetic drug (a Class A misdemeanor) and possession of paraphernalia (a Class C misdemeanor).

What all that means is a large discrepancy in their bonds.

Cavitt is being held on $10,000 cash bond, thanks to a county policy on methamphetamine charges that can effectively keep such defendants in jail for six weeks while awaiting a bond reduction hearing. That gives them a chance to withdraw from the wrath of meth unless they are able to post the $10,000 cash bond and get out of jail earlier.

In Cavitt's case, she tried to play the "I'm a mother with young children" card but the judge was having none of it.

"Poor choices make for bad consequences, don't they?" Judge Bridges said in response to her plea to be released from jail to take care of her kids.

Bridges also advised Cavitt that her mother has the children and had talked to his office earlier that day. Later, however, the court reporter noted that she was advised Cavitt is not allowed to see those children due to a Kentucky court ruling.

Meanwhile, bond for Moss was listed at $10,000 with 10 percent (or $1,000) allowable. So he can post that lesser portion and be on his way back to Kentucky.

Rodgers, the other passenger in the Chicago-bound car stopped about 10:15 a.m. Tuesday at the 37-mile marker of I-70, has a $5,000 bond because of the misdemeanor charges. He also can post 10 percent (or $500 in his case) and get out of jail.

All three suspects had not-guilty pleas entered for them by the judge and are scheduled for April 13 pretrial conferences.

Cavitt initially indicated she was unsure if she would hire a lawyer, although she later sent word that she was requesting a public defender.

After her initial confusion about the need for an attorney, Judge Bridges told her, "You're looking at 2-1/2 years in jail, what do you think?"

Moss, meanwhile, seemed confused by the charge of maintaining a common nuisance and asked the judge for clarification.

It means "knowingly or intentionally allowing use of an unlawful controlled substance in any structure or vehicle under your control," Judge Bridges noted.

The situation that spawned charges against the three Kentucky suspects unfolded after Trooper Yan Dravigne stopped their car for doing 90 mph in a 70-mph zone.

During subsequent conversations with Moss and his passengers, Dravigne determined the presence of several indicators of possible criminal activity. That made him call for Putnam County Sheriff's Department Capt. Dwight Simmons and K-9 partner Beau to assist, with the dog giving a positive alert to the odor of illegal drugs.

A later search of the car yielded less than one gram of methamphetamine, two Schedule IV controlled substance pills, three bags of synthetic drugs (K-2 or Spice), seven syringes, scales and other paraphernalia.