A plea deal was reached Monday morning in Christian Circuit Court for a woman who injured a Hopkinsville police officer while fleeing the scene of an investigation.
As previously reported, Hopkinsville police were called to the Holiday Inn in May of last year regarding a stolen vehicle on the lot.
The vehicle was located on East Ninth Street, driven by 44-year old Jessica Payne of Hopkinsville, who was argumentative and refused commands to stop.
She sped away and then stopped again at the Holiday Inn, where she was blocked in by officers. When Lt. Seth Meek attempted to break the window of the car to gain access, Payne backed up and then accelerated forward, running over his foot.
Payne then led multiple agencies on a pursuit that reached speeds over 100 mph and ended with her arrest in Lyon County.
The deal reached Monday includes amending a first-degree assault charge down to third-degree assault of an officer and amending robbery down to unlawful use of a vehicle. She pleaded guilty but mentally ill to all charges—also including resisting arrest and wanton endangerment.
It comes with a five-year total prison sentence that will run concurrently with whatever time she gets in her Lyon County case.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jerad Smith says the prosecution is opposed to probation, but neutral on shock probation—which Judge John Atkins explained to Payne will be decided about a month after final sentencing.
Smith explained a DUI charge was dismissed because blood tests showed no intoxicants in her system.
He says part of the deal will require Payne to be evaluated for possible mental health treatment.
Attorney Eric Bearden says Payne is expected to enter a plea in Lyon Circuit Court October 5 and will be sentenced there November 2. She’ll be sentenced in Christian County November 4 and her local time will run concurrently with the Lyon County sentence.