A 33-year-old Indiana man has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of two police officers for an incident that occurred in May 2022 when one officer was shot. He was scheduled to go to trial next week.
Bronson T. Anderson, of Rockport, pleaded guilty to the two attempted murder charges last week. Commonwealth’s Attorney Bruce Kuegel said Anderson also pleaded guilty to possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and first-degree robbery. His charges of theft by unlawful taking of an automobile and receiving a stolen firearm were dismissed.
Kuegel said Anderson faces a sentence of up to 35 years. Kuegel said he will recommend a sentence of 20 years total for the attempted murder charges, followed by concurrent sentences of 10 years for the robbery and 5 years for the handgun possession. Anderson’s sentencing date is set for October 31.
According to Kuegel, the Commonwealth’s office approached Anderson with the plea deal after talking with Officer Jacob Chesher and Officer John Doucet of Owensboro Police Department. Chesher was the officer who was shot during the incident, which occurred on May 14, 2022.
According to records, at approximately 8:54 p.m. that night OPD officers were investigating a suspicious person at a convenience store at 1816 Triplett Street. This individual, later identified as Anderson, and his vehicle matched the description from an earlier reported robbery at the gas station at 217 E. 25th Street, according to reports.
According to a release, Anderson began a physical altercation with officers during questioning. At that time Anderson is alleged to have fired one round from a handgun that was concealed, and Chesher was struck, according to records. Chesher recovered shortly after the incident.
Anderson then stole an OPD police vehicle and fled the scene, according to the release. The vehicle was recovered a short time later in Spencer County, Indiana. He was arrested early the next morning in Spencer County.
