Published: October 20, 2009 04:39 pm      

King lawyer’s files not public records

Appeal may be in works

FRANKFORT — Could Rocky King be considering an appeal to his conviction relating to the December 2005 murder of Morris King?

Last week, Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway issued an Open Records Decision denying Rocky King’s request that his former attorney, George Sornberger, provide with him records pertaining to his case. Apparently Sornberger never responded to the request.

While Conway acknowledged that Rocky King may have the right to access said records, Kentucky’s Open Records act does not apply to Sornberger as he is a private attorney and not a public agency.

Rocky King, 33, is currently an inmate at Kentucky State Reformatory where he is serving a 25-year sentence for his role in the death of Morris King (no relation).

In July 2007, Rocky King pled guilty to Complicity to Commit Murder and first-degree Robbery.

The case involved the robbery and murder of the 65-year-old Burnside man, who left a Winfield bar on December 15, 2005, only to be followed by a car occupied by Rocky King, brother Ricky Neal King, father Harold King, cousin Danny Bryant, and girlfriend Kim Dalton.

Though versions conflicted somewhat, the group concocted a plan to rob the man because he drove a nice vehicle and bought beer for several in the bar.

They left the bar ahead of Morris King and lay in wait until he passed them heading north toward home.

The defendants then followed Morris King, signaling for him to pull over with flashing lights. Once he had done so, Rocky King drove the victim’s Ford Explorer to the isolated Murray Wilson Cemetery Road below Pine Knot while Ricky followed in their father’s Saturn.

Once at the location, Morris King attempted to ward the robbers off by pulling a .38-caliber revolver which he carried. He was overpowered and both brothers shot him. Dalton took the man’s wallet.

Danny Bryant and Harold King (Rick’s father) pled guilty and were each sentenced to 10 years for Criminal Facilitation to Commit Murder and Robbery.

Rick King and Kim Dalton stood trial together and were convicted of first-degree Robbery and Complicity to Commit Murder. They are each serving 35 years.