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New Kentucky law requires DUI offenders pay child support to victims’ families

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New Kentucky law requires DUI offenders pay child support to victims’ families


FRANKFORT, Ky. — In Kentucky, families seriously impacted by someone driving under the influence can receive child support, after Governor Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 268 into law.

The bill, sponsored by Senator David Yates, is also known as “Melanie’s Law.”

It’s modeled after Bentley’s Law, passed in Texas, which requires people convicted of manslaughter as a result of driving under the influence to pay restitution.

“No child should lose a parent or guardian to someone else who is driving under the influence,” said Beshear. “We hope this bill will deter individuals from driving under the influence and will better support children who are victims of this crime.”

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In Kentucky, the law allows a judge to add restitution in the form of child support to the sentence of a person convicted of DUI if they caused an incident “that results in the death or permanent disability” of a child’s parent or guardian.

A specific amount the defendant would be required to pay is not highlighted in the law. Instead, it leaves it up to the court decide the amount after considering “all relevant factors,” including:

  • Financial needs and resources of the child
  • Financial resources and needs of the surviving parent or guardian
  • Standard of living to which the child is accustomed
  • Physical and emotional condition of the child and their educational needs
  • The child’s physical and legal custody arrangements
  • Reasonable child care expenses of the surviving parent or guardian

Under Melanie’s Law, the defendant would have to pay that amount for each of the victim’s children until those children turn 18 — or until they turn 19, if the child is still in high school.
If the person convicted is also incarcerated, they don’t have to begin paying the ordered child support until one year after their release, however.

The law says defendants paying child support will do it through a clerk of court, who will then pass the payments onto the victim or their family.

Yates told WNKY in April, when the bill was signed, the bill was named for his cousin, “who is still fighting hard for her life” after being hit by a drunk driver who ran a red light.

“I just didn’t realize the dozens of families that are going through the exact same thing,” said Yates the day Beshear signed the bill. “And to have just a little bit of justice here in Kentucky, I think is a positive.”

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Beshear formally held a signing ceremony for Senate Bill 268 on Monday.

“Today we honored the life of Melanie Hull by signing Senate Bill 268, which stems from unimaginable loss, but will help those impacted by drunk driving in the future,” read a Tweet from the governor’s account.





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Kentucky

'He punched the baby in the head’: Kentucky father sentenced for killing 1-year-old over video game loss – Times of India

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'He punched the baby in the head’: Kentucky father sentenced for killing 1-year-old over video game loss – Times of India


Anthony Trice and the victim child (Picture credit: X)

A Kentucky man was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Thursday for the brutal killing of his one-month-old son, who he punched in the head after losing a video game. Anthony Trice, 32, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Jefferson Circuit Court, concluding a chilling case that exposed the horrifying extent of violence inflicted on the infant.
The night of violence
The tragic incident unfolded on May 3, 2019, in Louisville, Kentucky. Trice, left alone to care for his infant son, flew into a rage after losing a video game. In a fit of uncontrolled anger, he threw his controller across the room and then punched the baby in the head with his fist, causing devastating injuries.
As the child cried in distress, Trice attempted to prepare a bottle but dropped the infant during the process, further injuring him. Instead of seeking immediate medical help, he propped the baby up with a bottle in a bedroom and left to use the bathroom. By the time he returned, the infant was in severe distress. Trice called 911, and the baby was rushed to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

From criminal abuse to manslaughter
Initially charged with criminal abuse, Trice’s charges escalated to first-degree murder following the child’s death. Court records revealed the brutality of the attack, which left the baby fatally injured. Trice eventually entered an Alford plea to manslaughter, maintaining his innocence but conceding that evidence against him was sufficient for a conviction.

Family’s heartbreak
The baby’s family, devastated by the events, recalled their shock and disbelief. Speaking to WLKY, the child’s aunt shared that the baby had been left with Trice while the family attended Kentucky Derby weekend festivities. “We were talking about the clothes he got and what we were about to get him,” she said, still struggling to comprehend the violence that unfolded.
The child’s grandmother also expressed her outrage. “I’m mad,” she said. “I would have never thought this would happen to our family.”





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Nebraska lands Kentucky WR transfer Dane Key

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Nebraska lands Kentucky WR transfer Dane Key


Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on Rivals.com, the leader in college football and basketball recruiting coverage. Be the first to know and follow your teams by signing up here.

Matt Rhule sewed up a strong piece to the offensive puzzle for next season, landing former Kentucky wide receiver Dane Key. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder will have one year of eligibility remaining.

Key picked the Cornhuskers over Ole Miss, Georgia and others.

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Rhule snagged Key at the perfect time, he’s coming off his best season with the Wildcats, securing a career-high 47 receptions and receiving yards in 715 yards.

Key’s consistency will make him an instant impact player for Nebraska next season. He’s been a starter since his true freshman season and accumulated 1,870 yards on 126 receptions and scored 14 touchdowns.

Key checked in at No. 13 overall in the Rivals Portal rankings.


Stay locked in on the Rivals Transfer Tracker to keep up with the latest transfer news, portal entries, commitments, and rankings. For a deep-dive into the transfer portal, make sure you visit the Rivals Transfer Search page.

The Rivals Transfer Portal X account is a must-follow for any college football fan.

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The winter college football transfer portal window is scheduled to open on December 9th, 2024 for 20 days. Additionally, players have a 30-day window to transfer when their head coach leaves. There is also a five-day window for players to transfer after their team has finished postseason play. A 10-day transfer window will open on April 16th as well.





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Lowlife dad who owes over $100K in child support arrested getting off cruise ship in Miami: officials

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Lowlife dad who owes over 0K in child support arrested getting off cruise ship in Miami: officials


A Kentucky dad who has racked up more than $100,000 in unpaid child support was arrested as he got off a cruise trip in Florida after several years on the lam, according to officials.  

Dominic Weaver’s vacation ended with him in handcuffs after he was taken into custody by local cops exiting the cruise ship in Miami sometime last week and brought back to Bluegrass State, Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell told a local Louisville news station.

The 47-year-old owes somewhere between $114,000 and $120,000 in child support, according to O’Connell.

Dominic Weaver owes thousands in child support. Law and Crime

Weaver was previously sentenced to five years of probation for flagrant non-support in 2019, according to Law and Crime.

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“I don’t know when he left, but he fled the jurisdiction, and from the date of his sentence until today, and even today, he’s not paid one cent of child support,” the Kentucky county official told WDRB.

O’Connell said Weaver has four cases with the child support division.

“This is one of the most egregious events that brings something to light that I think I’ve ever seen,” O’Connell told the news station.


The dad was arrested getting off a cruise ship, officials said.
The dad was arrested getting off a cruise ship in Miami and was brought back to Kentucky, officials said. Law and Crime

The official plans to ask the court to revoke his original sentence and instead get him behind bars for as long as four years.

The father’s lack of support for his kids is so poor he appeared on a 2021 list of parents that owe large sums of money for their children’s care. At the time, he owed nearly $100,000, according to county records.

Weaver’s arraignment is set for Jan. 6. 

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