Murray – A former Murray resident who was accused of rape last year had his final charge dismissed without prejudice Monday after previously striking the two other charges against him.
Logan Hay, 24, appeared before Calloway Circuit Court Judge Andrea Moore on Monday via Zoom for a hearing to dismiss his final case. The Murray Police Department originally charged High in August 2022 with first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy. According to an affidavit, a Murray State University student said she matched with Hay on the dating app Tinder, and told police she agreed to meet Hay at his apartment in Murray. She then accused him of forcing her to have sex.
Following MPD’s investigation, another alleged victim was discovered, and Hay was indicted by the Calloway County Grand Jury on the first two charges, as well as an additional charge of first-degree rape for the second alleged victim. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney James Burkin told the Ledger & Times on Monday that the court had previously granted a request to separate the cases so that charges against each of the two alleged victims could be tried separately. Hay was acquitted of first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy at the conclusion of the trial, which was held June 28-29, Bourquin said.
“We tried one case — one victim, one case, two charges — and it resulted in an acquittal,” Burkin said. “Then as we were looking at the remaining number, there was a communication issue with the victim in this case (making it difficult) to move forward, so we just moved to dismiss that without prejudice.”
Hay has reportedly moved out of state since the trial. When a case is dismissed without prejudice, it means the case is dismissed, but it will be possible for prosecutors to bring charges again if they deem it appropriate. On the other hand, the lawsuit that was dismissed with prejudice is considered final.
A Cadiz man who allegedly overturned a pickup truck while fleeing from the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office last year appeared in Calloway Circuit Court for a pretrial conference. Charles Sykes, 62, of Cadiz, charged with first-degree fleeing or evading police (motor vehicle); three counts of resisting arrest; three counts of wanton endangerment of a police officer in the first degree; Criminal mischief in the first degree; reckless driving; and assault on a police officer or probation officer in the third degree.
According to a uniform citation, the Calloway County 911 Communications Center was advised by the Trigg County Sheriff’s Office on the morning of August 29, 2022, to be on the lookout for a black Dodge Ram in reference to a suicidal man named Charles Sykes, who had allegedly threatened to “shoot With the police.” After law enforcement spotted him and CCSO Captain Richard Steen attempted a traffic stop, Sykes allegedly failed to yield and a chase began on US 641 North. After allegedly crossing into Marshall County and turning to head south on 641, Sykes allegedly failed to yield to CCSO emergency equipment and evaded spike strips. After CCSO Deputy Brandon Weinbarger initiated a PIT (Pursuit Intervention Technique) maneuver, Sykes’ vehicle rolled over in the median.
Sykes’ jury trial is scheduled for Jan. 10-12, 2024. On Monday, his attorney, Don Thomas, requested another pretrial conference in December. After consulting with Burkin, Circuit Judge Andrea Moore scheduled Sykes’ next pretrial conference for 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 18.
Sykes faces another jury trial next year in Cadiz on charges that were filed the same week the Calloway County charges were filed. According to a news release, Kentucky State Police Post 1 was notified in August 2022 by the Trigg County Sheriff’s Office of a report of a sexual relationship between an adult male and a female juvenile. TCSO asked KSP to investigate these allegations. KSP said the investigation revealed that Sykes was involved in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old victim beginning in June 2022. The investigation led to Sykes being charged with five counts of third-degree rape and five counts of third-degree sodomy. The statement said.
Sikes’ final pretrial conference in Trigg County is scheduled for Feb. 14, 2024, and Calloway Circuit Court had to set a trial date and hearings on the Trigg County case, Bourquin said.
Jonathan Thomas, 32, of Murray, also appeared at a pretrial conference. He is charged with two counts of first-degree sodomy (victim under 12 years of age) and one count of distributing obscene material to minors, first offense. According to a uniform citation, the Murray Police Department executed a warrant on April 21, 2021, at his home and arrested him without incident.
Jonathan Thomas was scheduled to appear before a jury Sept. 20-22, but his attorney — also Don Thomas — asked to be struck from the docket. Don Thomas also asked if the Commonwealth would consider mediation, and Bourquin indicated he would be open to that possibility. Moore scheduled the next pretrial conference for 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 20, and suggested that the prosecution and defense meet before that time to discuss possible mediation.
Melissa Bulik’s case was also on the docket, and Moore scheduled her next appearance for 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 6. Bulik faces a charge of first-degree sexual assault that allegedly occurred in February. According to court documents, Bolick is accused of having sexual contact with a 13-year-old boy who was in her care, and was arrested by the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office on April 1. Kentucky law classifies first-degree sexual assault as a Class D felony.
Individuals facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
