2 Bardstown men indicted for assault, intimidation of Bardstown man

STAFF REPORT

Editor’s Note: The indictment of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Friday, May 20, 2011 – Two Bardstown men were indicted Wednesday, May 18, 2011, by a Nelson County grand jury for assaulting a Bardstown man and then attempting to scare the victim to keep him from pursuing charges.

Lashawn Tonge, 21 and Randy E. Cooper, 26, were each charged with first-degree assault and complicity to same; intimidating a participant in a legal process and complicity to same, and retaliating against a participant in a legal process and complicity to same.

According to the indictment, between May 12 and May 13, 2011, Tonge, acting alone or in concert with Randy E. Cooper Jr., allegedly assaulted a Bardstown man and then attempted to scare the victim who was believed to be a participant in a legal process. The indictment states that Tonge, acting alone or in concedrt with Cooper, allegedly also “engaged or threatened to engage in conduct causing or intended to cause bodily injury.” Cooper was also indicted on charges of being a persistent felony offender as he had four previous felony convictions.

Bail for Tonge and Cooper was set at $50,000 each cash only plus conditions. Tonge and Cooper are set for arraignment on June 2, 2011 in Nelson Circuit Court.

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