Kevin Abner, middle left, stands before Circuit Judge John Alexander as he enters his guilty plea on Jan. 27. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Kevin Abner entered a guilty plea in the double shooting case that occurred on Park City Glasgow Road last year.
The Barren County Sheriff’s Office arrested Abner on March 17, 2024, after he fired two rounds, which hit Shane and Anthony Wheat. At the time Abner told investigators that he went to the residence after he was told that his daughter was there and was possibly being held there against her will.
In April 2024, a Barren County grand jury indicted the 59-year-old on charges of first- and second-degree assault.
After just under a year of pretrial conferences, Abner appeared before Judge John Alexander with Commonwealth’s Attorney John Gardner and his defense attorney Ken Garrett stating they had reached an agreement in the case.
“In this case there are two victims,” Gardner said. “We have met with both of them and gone over the charges and what sentence Mr. Abner could be facing if he’s convicted by a jury and both victims indicated to the commonwealth that they didn’t want to see any punishment…obviously considering the circumstances the commonwealth did not feel that was appropriate so we extended this offer after speaking with…them.”
The plea deal amended the two assault charges to first-degree wanton endangerment and each of those had a 5-year sentence attached that would be served consecutively for a total of 10 years. The deal also stated Abner would have the weapon and ammunition forfeited and that he could have no contact, direct or indirect, with the victims.
In actuality, Abner’s 10-year sentence is 5 years of supervised probation since he had served at least 180 days in jail and approximately a $500 fine.
He was sentenced during his Jan. 27 court appearance and his ankle monitor was set to be removed.
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