Four Leitchfield men indicted on multiple burglary, gun and other charges related to attempted break-in on Brandenburg Rd.

johnnie-king-11-19
johnnie-king-11-19

The four men involved in an attempted break-in on Brandenburg Road have been indicted by the Grayson County Grand Jury.

Three of the men, 23-year-old Jessie J. King, 21-year-old Michael L. Ward and 23-year-old Brandon V. Harper, all of Leitchfield, were indicted on charges related to the early September attempted burglary, while 54-year-old Johnnie C. King (Jessie King’s father), also of Leitchfield, was indicted for possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and being a persistent felony offender.

Johnnie King is accused of picking up his son and Harper from near the scene of the attempted burglary.

The incident began in the early morning hours of September 2 when Grayson County Sheriff’s Sgt. Fred Norder responded to the 7700 block of Brandenburg Road to investigate a prowler complaint.

The homeowner told Norder that one of the suspects damaged his front door after he tried to break it down with a sledgehammer. The resident further said he exited his home and fired two rounds from a shotgun into the ground to frighten the intruders.

While speaking with the homeowner, Norder discovered that several males were hiding under and behind multiple vehicles in the area, with one of the men carrying a sledgehammer. He also observed a vehicle parked 20 to 30 yards away. Ward, who was in the car, then fled at a high rate of speed.

Norder pursued the vehicle, finally catching up to Ward in Breckinridge County, where he was arrested. Jesse King and Harper were located with Johnnie King when the elder King was pulled over on Brandenburg Road by a Breckinridge County deputy.

In total, three handguns and a sledge hammer were confiscated by police.

Jessie King and Harper were indicted for attempted burglary, criminal trespass and carrying a concealed deadly weapon (handguns). Harper was also indicted for promoting contraband for being caught with Percocet, Xanax and marijuana while being booked into the Grayson County Detention Center.

Ward was indicted for attempted burglary, wanton endangerment (police officer), fleeing or evading police, DUI, possession of burglary tools, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and speeding 26 mph or more over the limit.

(Headline photo: Johnnie King)

Michael Ward
Brandon Harper
Jesse King
Police investigate the attempted break-in on Sunday morning, Sept. 2, 2018

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000