By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Two Barren County individuals had their cases arraigned in circuit court on Oct. 27 and both pleaded not guilty.
Thomas Joseph Orlando, 39, was indicted by a Barren County grand jury earlier this month on the capital offense of murder and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment. Appearing via Zoom before Circuit Judge John Alexander, his counsel waived a formal reading of Orlando’s indictment and entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf.
He is currently lodged in the Barren County Detention Center on a $1 million cash bond. Orlando’s next court date was set for Dec. 15 at 1 p.m.
Similarly, Krystal Sims, 30, who is charged with unlawfully using electronic communication to solicit, procure, or promote a child for sexual activity or other prohibited acts, had a not-guilty plea filed in her case. Sims’ case was forwarded to a grand jury after her appearances in Barren County District Court and had not yet returned an indictment, but, in an effort to expedite the process, her case was moved to circuit court without one. Both her attorney, Travis Lock, and Commonwealth’s Attorney John Gardner agreed they were fine proceeding.
“Rather than to wait and see…when, or if, there’s an indictment that comes down from the grand jury, you all are agreeing to go ahead to move this case up to circuit court as if it had already been indicted,” Alexander said.
Through Lock, Sims entered into a not-guilty plea. Her next court appearance is set for Dec. 15 at 10 a.m. Her bond was also slightly modified — no contact with minor was changed to no illegal contact with minors.
