Judge won't join homicide cases
By Kat Russell, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
July 16, 2016
http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/judge-won-t-join-homicide-cases/article_a66e7324-5b0f-11e7-b6a9-10604b9f0f42.html
CADIZ — Frustrations flared Friday as motions were argued in Trigg Circuit Court in the cases against Ryan Champion and his girlfriend Ann Plotkin.
Champion, 36, was charged in 2014 with murder, three counts of complicity to murder and one count of kidnapping after the bodies of his father, Lindsey Champion, 62; mother, Joy Champion, 60; sister Emily Champion, 31; and his alleged accomplice Vito Riservato, 22, were found at the Champion family home.
Plotkin was charged in 2015 with three counts of complicity to murder after police said she either helped facilitate the murders or knew of the plan and did nothing to stop it.
In court Friday, Commonwealth Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins asked Judge C.A. Woodall to join the two cases, stating the same set of circumstances and facts exist for both defendants.
"We'd essentially be trying the same case twice," she said.
Wiggins added that if the cases were joined, she'd be ready to try both cases in February, which is when Champion's trial is scheduled to start. However, Wiggins noted, she did not want anything to derail Champion's trial.
Plotkin's defense attorney, Kenneth Root, argued against joining the cases, stating he would not be ready to go to trial in February. Because the commonwealth filed to pursue the death penalty, Root said he would likely bring in another attorney who has more experience with capital cases. The new attorney, he said, would need time to get up to speed.
Root also argued trying Plotkin with Champion could prove prejudicial to Plotkin, noting that not all the evidence presented in Champion's case would be applicable to Plotkin, but could color the jury's decision.
Champion's attorney Joanne Lynch also objected, stating that joining the two cases could violate Champion's right to due process.
Woodall agreed with the defense, opting to keep the two cases separate.
Woodall said if he joined the cases, he'd most likely have to sever them again later to give Plotkin's defense team more time, and he did not want to delay Champion's trial.
The next pretrial conference is scheduled for Aug. 19.
Champion, 36, was charged in 2014 with murder, three counts of complicity to murder and one count of kidnapping after the bodies of his father, Lindsey Champion, 62; mother, Joy Champion, 60; sister Emily Champion, 31; and his alleged accomplice Vito Riservato, 22, were found at the Champion family home.
Plotkin was charged in 2015 with three counts of complicity to murder after police said she either helped facilitate the murders or knew of the plan and did nothing to stop it.
In court Friday, Commonwealth Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins asked Judge C.A. Woodall to join the two cases, stating the same set of circumstances and facts exist for both defendants.
"We'd essentially be trying the same case twice," she said.
Wiggins added that if the cases were joined, she'd be ready to try both cases in February, which is when Champion's trial is scheduled to start. However, Wiggins noted, she did not want anything to derail Champion's trial.
Plotkin's defense attorney, Kenneth Root, argued against joining the cases, stating he would not be ready to go to trial in February. Because the commonwealth filed to pursue the death penalty, Root said he would likely bring in another attorney who has more experience with capital cases. The new attorney, he said, would need time to get up to speed.
Root also argued trying Plotkin with Champion could prove prejudicial to Plotkin, noting that not all the evidence presented in Champion's case would be applicable to Plotkin, but could color the jury's decision.
Champion's attorney Joanne Lynch also objected, stating that joining the two cases could violate Champion's right to due process.
Woodall agreed with the defense, opting to keep the two cases separate.
Woodall said if he joined the cases, he'd most likely have to sever them again later to give Plotkin's defense team more time, and he did not want to delay Champion's trial.
The next pretrial conference is scheduled for Aug. 19.
