Pastor’s son has menacing charge dismissed, plus other Fayette Court updates
Cases for two people charged in Lexington progressed through the court system in March, as they either pleaded guilty or had their charges dismissed.
In one, a Lexington woman pleaded guilty to an amended charge of manslaughter. In the other, a man’s menacing charge was dropped altogether.
Here are court updates on cases previously covered by the Herald-Leader.
Woman pleads guilty to amended charge for 2024 homicide
A Lexington woman pleaded guilty to amended charges for a May 2024 homicide on Dakota Street.
Sheri Phillips, 37, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of 50-year-old Russell Houston.
Police were called May 17, 2024, to the 700 block of Dakota Street, where they found Houston dead from a gunshot wound.
Phillips was originally charged with murder and being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun.
But on March 11, Phillips pleaded guilty to amended charges of first-degree manslaughter and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
As part of her plea deal, Phillips could face 10 years for the manslaughter charge and five years for the firearm charge. A judge will determine Phillips’ sentence at an April 17 hearing.
Pastor’s son arrested after shooting has charges dismissed
The son of the pastor at Richmond Road Baptist Church arrested after a mass shooting at the church killed his sister and mother had his charges dismissed.
Jerry Gumm, 58, was charged with menacing after police said he acted “belligerently” at the scene and indicated he was going to draw a gun from his hip in July 2025. A trooper grabbed Gumm’s arm and placed him under arrest before he could draw his weapon.
The arrest happened after Guy House, 47, showed up at the church looking for the mother of his children after he shot and injured a Kentucky State trooper outside Blue Grass Airport.
When he was told she wasn’t there, House opened fire, killing the pastor’s wife, Beverly Gumm.
He then went outside and shot and killed Beverly Gumm’s daughter, Christina Combs, and shot and injured the pastor, also named Jerry Gumm, and Christina Combs’ husband, Randy Combs.
After the shooting, Jerry Gumm was charged with menacing. However, his charges were dismissed March 23.
Court records show that Gumm “adequately apologized” on the record, and the defense attorneys and prosecutors agreed the charges could be dropped.
