Champion case stalls as defense catches up
By Kat Russell, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
March 20, 2015
http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/champion-case-stalls-as-defense-catches-up/article_844a3126-5adc-11e7-a051-10604b9f0f42.html
Kat Russell / The Paducah Sun
CADIZ, Ky. — Accused in the shooting deaths of his parents and adult sister, 36-year-old Ryan Champion of Oak Grove grimaced as he walked into Trigg Circuit Court for a pre-trial conference Friday morning.
Champion is charged with murder, three counts of complicity to murder and kidnapping in the Oct. 26 killings of his mother, Joy Champion, 60; his father, Lindsey Champion, 62; his sister, Emily Champion, 31, and his alleged accomplice, Vito Riservato, 22, of Hopkinsville.
Police believe Champion teamed up with Riservato in a murder-for-hire scheme that resulted in the family's deaths. Riservato, who was also found dead in the Champions' Old Dover Road home, is believed to have killed the family before Champion allegedly killed him.
The kidnapping charge comes from Emily Champion being bound with duct tape before she was killed.
Appearing with his reappointed defense team, Julia Mudd and Joanne Lynch, Champion stood silently, shackled at the wrists and ankles, while his lawyers requested more time before the judge ruled on two motions.
Champion's previous attorney, Tom Osborne, who had taken over the case Dec. 10 after the commonwealth announced its intent to seek the death penalty, had filed motions requesting a speedy trial and a bill of particulars.
The motions were scheduled to be addressed last month, but were postponed when Osborne requested to withdraw from the case saying the relationship with his client had deteriorated.
"I just want to make sure that the record is clear," Lynch told Circuit Judge C.A. "Woody" Woodall. "We did send a letter to Mr. Osborne requesting discovery. We also made two phone calls ... however we still have not received anything from his office."
Granting the defense four months to review its case, the judge ruled he would table Osborne's motions until Lynch and Mudd were up to speed, saying the recent bouts of snow could have delayed the process.
Champion is charged with murder, three counts of complicity to murder and kidnapping in the Oct. 26 killings of his mother, Joy Champion, 60; his father, Lindsey Champion, 62; his sister, Emily Champion, 31, and his alleged accomplice, Vito Riservato, 22, of Hopkinsville.
Police believe Champion teamed up with Riservato in a murder-for-hire scheme that resulted in the family's deaths. Riservato, who was also found dead in the Champions' Old Dover Road home, is believed to have killed the family before Champion allegedly killed him.
The kidnapping charge comes from Emily Champion being bound with duct tape before she was killed.
Appearing with his reappointed defense team, Julia Mudd and Joanne Lynch, Champion stood silently, shackled at the wrists and ankles, while his lawyers requested more time before the judge ruled on two motions.
Champion's previous attorney, Tom Osborne, who had taken over the case Dec. 10 after the commonwealth announced its intent to seek the death penalty, had filed motions requesting a speedy trial and a bill of particulars.
The motions were scheduled to be addressed last month, but were postponed when Osborne requested to withdraw from the case saying the relationship with his client had deteriorated.
"I just want to make sure that the record is clear," Lynch told Circuit Judge C.A. "Woody" Woodall. "We did send a letter to Mr. Osborne requesting discovery. We also made two phone calls ... however we still have not received anything from his office."
Granting the defense four months to review its case, the judge ruled he would table Osborne's motions until Lynch and Mudd were up to speed, saying the recent bouts of snow could have delayed the process.
Kat Russell / The Paducah Sun
After Champion was led from the courtroom, his alleged girlfriend at the time of the killings appeared next.
Arrested Feb. 11, 41-year-old Ann Plotkin is charged with three counts of complicity to murder.
According to the grand jury indictment, Plotkin had prior knowledge of the slayings and helped plan the Champions' deaths.
Plotkin's attorney, Ken Root, a public defender from Madisonville, argued to have the woman's bond reduced to a "reasonable amount," stating she's lived in Cadiz for 20 years and had cooperated with police during their investigation.
Plotkin is being held at Christian County Jail on a $3 million cash bond. Champion's bond is $5 million.
"Miss Plotkin has of course been charged with some very serious crimes," Root said. "But the case that the commonwealth has presented … narrows down to a very circumstantial case."
Root then told the judge Plotkin has family members who are willing to pay for electronic monitoring if her bail were to be reduced to an affordable amount.
In response, Commonwealth Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins argued Plotkin was a danger to the community.
"Miss Plotkin is charged with three counts of murder," she said. "In looking at the bond, the court needs to look at the gravity of the offense … I think anything less than the $3 million would be woefully inadequate."
Woodall agreed with Ovey-Wiggins, stating, "the high amount reflects the seriousness of the charges against Miss Plotkin."
Both Champion and Plotkin are scheduled to appear next in court on July 31.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
Arrested Feb. 11, 41-year-old Ann Plotkin is charged with three counts of complicity to murder.
According to the grand jury indictment, Plotkin had prior knowledge of the slayings and helped plan the Champions' deaths.
Plotkin's attorney, Ken Root, a public defender from Madisonville, argued to have the woman's bond reduced to a "reasonable amount," stating she's lived in Cadiz for 20 years and had cooperated with police during their investigation.
Plotkin is being held at Christian County Jail on a $3 million cash bond. Champion's bond is $5 million.
"Miss Plotkin has of course been charged with some very serious crimes," Root said. "But the case that the commonwealth has presented … narrows down to a very circumstantial case."
Root then told the judge Plotkin has family members who are willing to pay for electronic monitoring if her bail were to be reduced to an affordable amount.
In response, Commonwealth Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins argued Plotkin was a danger to the community.
"Miss Plotkin is charged with three counts of murder," she said. "In looking at the bond, the court needs to look at the gravity of the offense … I think anything less than the $3 million would be woefully inadequate."
Woodall agreed with Ovey-Wiggins, stating, "the high amount reflects the seriousness of the charges against Miss Plotkin."
Both Champion and Plotkin are scheduled to appear next in court on July 31.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
