Post by dalejrfan on Aug 24, 2006 23:29:13 GMT -5
Willard Speedway’s tower and concession stand were destroyed
GRAYSON,KY— A Paintsville attorney has been indicted in Carter County in connection with the burning and vandalism of the Willard Speedway which occurred about three weeks ago.
Michael Osborne was charged with three counts of second-degree arson, two counts of third-degree burglary and one count of tampering with physical evidence relating to the Aug. 3 incident.
In addition to being an attorney, Osborne owns his own racetrack, 201 Speedway, in Johnson County.
Also indicted was an alleged accomplice, Carol Justice, also of Paintsville. Justice faces three charges of complicity to second-degree arson and two counts of complicity to third-degree burglary.
A grand jury indictment is a formal accusation of a crime and does not establish guilt.
Ann Allen, who owns the Willard track along with her husband, Jim, said the scoring tower, which cost about $30,000 when the track was established 10 years ago, was destroyed by fire, along with a concession stand. Gas and oil had also been spread on the upper admissions stand, but the fire never reached that building.
“I don’t know why anyone would do this,” she said. “It’s been really nerve-wracking for us, going through all of this.”
The Allens had run Willard Speedway until this summer, when they leased the operations to a Huntington couple.
The Allens live in Prestonsburg, and Ann Allen said she and her husband were “getting too old” to make the continuing trips to the track and keep it up and running.
She said she received a phone call at about 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 3 informing her of the fire, which had started about five hours earlier. She and her husband had returned from vacation at Myrtle Beach the night before the blaze.
In addition to fire damage, Osborne allegedly drained a 20,000 gallon reservoir at the track and spread nails across the racing surface.
Ann Allen said she doesn’t know why Osborne would have been motivated to vandalize the Carter County track.
“His track draws about 1,200 to 1,300 people on nights they race,” she said. “Out at Willard, we’re happy if we get 500 to 600.
“We’re small potatoes compared to him.”
GRAYSON,KY— A Paintsville attorney has been indicted in Carter County in connection with the burning and vandalism of the Willard Speedway which occurred about three weeks ago.
Michael Osborne was charged with three counts of second-degree arson, two counts of third-degree burglary and one count of tampering with physical evidence relating to the Aug. 3 incident.
In addition to being an attorney, Osborne owns his own racetrack, 201 Speedway, in Johnson County.
Also indicted was an alleged accomplice, Carol Justice, also of Paintsville. Justice faces three charges of complicity to second-degree arson and two counts of complicity to third-degree burglary.
A grand jury indictment is a formal accusation of a crime and does not establish guilt.
Ann Allen, who owns the Willard track along with her husband, Jim, said the scoring tower, which cost about $30,000 when the track was established 10 years ago, was destroyed by fire, along with a concession stand. Gas and oil had also been spread on the upper admissions stand, but the fire never reached that building.
“I don’t know why anyone would do this,” she said. “It’s been really nerve-wracking for us, going through all of this.”
The Allens had run Willard Speedway until this summer, when they leased the operations to a Huntington couple.
The Allens live in Prestonsburg, and Ann Allen said she and her husband were “getting too old” to make the continuing trips to the track and keep it up and running.
She said she received a phone call at about 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 3 informing her of the fire, which had started about five hours earlier. She and her husband had returned from vacation at Myrtle Beach the night before the blaze.
In addition to fire damage, Osborne allegedly drained a 20,000 gallon reservoir at the track and spread nails across the racing surface.
Ann Allen said she doesn’t know why Osborne would have been motivated to vandalize the Carter County track.
“His track draws about 1,200 to 1,300 people on nights they race,” she said. “Out at Willard, we’re happy if we get 500 to 600.
“We’re small potatoes compared to him.”