The man charged in a multi-county pursuit from October, William Cheatham, entered a guilty plea in relation to those charges Thursday in Christian Circuit Court.
Cheatham appeared virtually with public defender Eric Bearden, and entered the guilty plea to second-degree assault, wanton endangerment, fleeing or evading police, speeding, reckless driving and resisting arrest. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jared Smith told the court that came with a recommended sentence of seven years.
The Commonwealth was opposed to probation, but not shock probation, provided Cheatham complete the Substance Abuse Program while incarcerated. Judge John Atkins read Cheatham his rights, and then accepted his guilty plea.
Final sentencing was waived to allow Cheatham to begin the program as soon as possible. In October, KSP was notified of a motorcycle being pursued into Muhlenberg County out of McLean County and troopers joined just outside of Powderly. Cheatham, who was operating the motorcycle, continued south on Greenville Road into Christian County before turning onto Woodburn Hay Road and then Old Madisonville Road.
The pursuit came to an end when Cheatham struck a Christian County sheriff’s deputy, who was treated and released from Jennie Stuart Medical Center that same night.