An Owensboro man who was initially charged in 2020 with attempted murder of a police officer for nearly hitting emergency personnel with his car has pleaded guilty to six counts of wanton endangerment and several other charges, and he has been sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison.
Timothy Webster, now 30, was facing numerous charges stemming from an incident that occurred on February 2, 2020, when he was 26.
According to an arrest citation from the Owensboro Police Department, deputies responded to a wreck in the 2700 block of Veach Road at approximately 10:16 p.m. that night. The Owensboro Fire Department and AMR also responded to the scene.
According to the citation, Webster was being uncooperative and was observed to have “glossy, blood shot eyes, very slow and slurred speech, and slow movement.” The report says Webster began driving the vehicle and nearly ran over an officer who was standing near the front of the vehicle, as well as nine other emergency personnel.
Webster then led officers on a vehicle pursuit, according to the citation, during which he was speeding and driving in the wrong lanes.
OPD eventually ended their pursuit to the dangerous conditions, but the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle a short time later, according to reports. The citation says Webster wrecked again and attempted to flee on foot before he was caught and arrested by DCSO.
According to a citation from DCSO, in plain view inside the vehicle was a loaded AR-15 rifle and a backpack with packages of suspected marijuana sticking out. A total of 4 pounds of suspected marijuana, scales, and ammo for a handgun were all found in the vehicle, the report says.
One criminal case against Webster included charges related to the initial scene worked by OPD. A second case included separate charges related to the scene worked by DCSO. A third case involved a single charge — trafficking in meth — that was filed by OPD on February 24, 2020, following an undercover investigation, according to reports.
Those three cases were all being heard simultaneously in Daviess County Circuit Court.
Earlier this year, a trial date for all three cases was set for July 27. However, Webster agreed to a plea deal before the case went to trial. On October 8, Judge Bill Barber officially accepted the plead agreement and sentenced Webster to 12 years in prison, in accordance with the agreement.
Most notably, the attempted murder of a police officer charge was amended to first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer. Webster pleaded guilty to most of the other charges, while several traffic-related counts were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
In the case related to the initial accident scene, the plea agreement included Webster pleading guilty to the following:
- Count 1: First-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer; 5 years in prison
- Counts 2-3: First-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer; 5 years in prison
- Counts 4-6: First-degree wanton endangerment; 5 years in prison
- Count 7: First-degree fleeing or evading police (motor vehicle); 2 years in prison
Counts 2-6 will run concurrently with one another, but consecutively with Counts 1 and 7 for a total of 12 years in prison.
In the case related to the second accident scene, the plea agreement included Webster pleading guilty to the following:
- Count 1: Trafficking in marijuana (8 oz to < 5 lbs) (enhanced); 10 years in prison
- Count 2: Possession of drug paraphernalia (enhanced); 5 years in prison
- Count 3: Operating on a suspended/revoked operator’s license; 90 days in jail
- Count 4: Second-degree fleeing or evading police (on foot); 12 months in jail
- Count 5: Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs/etc. (.08 aggravated), second offense; 90 days in jail
- Count 6: Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; 5 years in prison
Counts 1-6 will run concurrently with one another and with the counts in the other cases.
In the case related to the undercover OPD operation, the plea agreement included Webster pleading guilty to first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (>= 2 grams methamphetamine), with a sentence of 10 years in prison running concurrently with the other cases.
