KY brothers sentenced for 19-year-old’s death, and more Lexington court updates
Court cases stemming from several Central Kentucky homicides moved through the court system in May as defendants received their sentences.
Developments included brothers sentenced for murder and manslaughter in a 2022 homicide, and another man who was sentenced for an amended charge in a fatal crash.
Here are updates on court cases previously covered by the Herald-Leader.
Brothers sentenced for 19-year-old’s murder
A pair of brothers were sentenced in connection to the shooting death of a 19-year-old Lexington woman.
Hubert Riley, 25, and Alexander Riley, 18, were indicted for the murder of Elaina Mammen in March 2022.
The brothers pleaded guilty April 14 and were sentenced May 9.
In December 2022, Mammen was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds inside a vehicle in the 3400 block of Colonnade Drive, according to court records.
The brothers fired into a vehicle that Mammen was driving at the time, according to a criminal complaint.
Two vehicles and three homes with people inside were struck by gunfire when the brothers opened fire.
Hubert Riley, 25, was sentenced to 30 years for charges of murder, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, criminal mischief and five counts of wanton endangerment. He originally faced an additional charge of persistent felony offender, but the charge was dismissed.
His brother, Alexander Riley, 18, pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter, criminal mischief, five counts of wanton endangerment and a charge of minor in possession of a handgun. He originally faced a murder charge, but it was later amended to manslaughter.
Alexander Riley was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Man sentenced for murder at Lexington motel
A man charged in a 2022 murder that took place inside a Lexington motel was sentenced May 1, according to court documents.
Danny Sims, 53, pleaded guilty to murder and evidence tampering on March 20. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
He and Alysha Noel, 33, were charged with murder and evidence tampering in the April 2022 murder of William Ashby.
Noel pleaded guilty in April 2024 to amended charges of facilitation of murder, with the tampering charge expected to be dismissed, according to court documents.
Noel received conditional discharge for eight months at her sentencing.
Police responded to the Catilina Motel on April 8, 2022, after receiving a tip that there may be a dead person in a hotel room, police said.
Officers responded and found a body, later identified as Ashby, under a mattress and box spring with his feet bound together by duct tape.
Court documents say Noel struck Ashby several times with a metal object, and Noel stabbed and cut him.
Police also located an overdue rental car leased to Sims directly in front of the room, which had two newly purchased tarps, a roll of duct tape, and some of Noel’s belongings, according to police testimony.
Sims and Noel were on scene when police arrived and were taken to police headquarters for questioning.
Sims told police all three were in the room when Ashby and Noel got into an argument, according to police. Sims got involved in the argument, then proceeded to assault Ashby with the metal tool before Noel cut Ashby’s throat with a box cutter while he was lying on the floor, police testified previously.
Based on evidence and accounts, detectives determined the killing took place April 4, four days before police found Ashby’s body.
Accomplice sentenced in guardian’s death
An accomplice in September 2020 homicide was sentenced for her involvement that left 56-year-old guardian dead.
Jessica Hoskins, 23, pleaded guilty to tampering with physical evidence and unlawful taking of a vehicle April 9. She was sentenced to serve seven years in prison May 6.
Hoskins was charged alongside her former boyfriend, Dalton Carpenter, 24, in the death of 56-year-old Sabel Jallow, who was found in her Masterson Station home, according to Lexington police.
Carpenter pleaded guilty to murder, tampering with physical evidence, theft by unlawful taking and fraudulent use of a credit card in October 2023. He was sentenced to 26 years in prison on Dec. 7, 2023.
Jallow died of “sharp force injuries,” according to the Fayette County coroner’s office. Investigators believed Hoskins and Carpenter were in a fight with Jallow when Carpenter caused “traumatic injuries” to Jallow, killing her, according to Lexington police.
Jallow was contracted as a guardian for Hoskins, according to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
Hoskins’ sentencing is scheduled for May 6. She could face seven years in prison.
Man who caused fatal accident sentenced
A man who hit a woman in June 2023 on New Circle Road, leading to her death, was sentenced for amended charges.
Gary Higgason, 71, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident/failure to render aid/assistance with death/serious physical injury. Investigators became aware of Higgason’s alleged role in the accident through a tip to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers.
Police opened an investigation into the incident when they were called to a report of a dead body at the Newtown Pike exit of New Circle Road shortly before 1 a.m. on June 22, 2023.
The Fayette County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 51-year-old Sheila McClintock, a Lexington resident.
McClintock was walking along the side of the road when she was hit by a car, according to police. The coroner said she died from multiple blunt force injuries. Higgason fled the scene after the accident, according to police.
Higgason was sentenced for an amended charge of reckless driving May 20. He was ordered to pay a $100 fine, court costs and his license was suspended.
Higgason continues to assert his innocence. He says he was set up by police, and only took the plea deal so he could get the process over with.
“It continues to multiply and it’s stripped me of everything I’ve got,” Higgason told the Herald-Leader.
This story was originally published May 30, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
