A man who accepted a plea deal in November for a September shooting incident that originally had him charged with attempted murder again failed to appear in Christian Circuit Court Monday for final sentencing.
Forty-four-year-old Brian Ellis entered an Alford plea to seven counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, fleeing or evading police, tampering with evidence and trafficking in methamphetamine in a deal that came with a recommended 15-year sentence.
Ellis was allowed to remain out on bond pending formal sentencing on December 30, but attorney Rick Sanborn said on that day that Ellis had COVID-19 and could not appear.
Judge John Atkins gave Ellis until Monday to show proof of a positive coronavirus test, but Ellis did not appear in person or by Zoom for the hearing.
Sanborn told the court he had reached out to Ellis in multiple ways, but hadn’t heard from him Monday.
Judge Atkins issued a warrant for Ellis’ arrest and ordered that his bond be revoked and confiscated.
The Christian County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shots fired call in the 2900 block of Dawson Springs Road on September 1 and soon received a second call of gunfire in the 10000 block of Hart Road that struck a vehicle.
Police say Ellis fired the gunshots from his car into the Dawson Springs Road home and into the vehicle on Hart Road. A man and woman who were in the house and vehicle were not injured in the shootings
The drugs were allegedly found in Ellis’ home and vehicle on Wallace Avenue at the time of his arrest.