Hundley plans to plead guilty; three-month sentence recommended
Published 11:37 pm Thursday, January 4, 2018
A sentence of three months — that’s what has been recommended for a Boyle County man and former Danville police officer.
On Thursday morning, Ryan Hundley expressed his a plan to enter a guilty plea to charges of harassment; fourth-degree assault, domestic violence with minor injury; and terroristic threatening in the third-degree.
Hundley initially faced a charge of first-degree wanton endangerment, but it was amended down at the request of the victim.
His charges stem from a May 21 altercation, when he allegedly grabbed the victim in a chokehold and threw the person to the ground. He was accused of sitting on top of the victim and continuing to choke the person; then later when the victim tried to call 911, he allegedly again used a chokehold.
When the victim stated plans to call 911 again, he allegedly grabbed a shotgun and stated he would kill the victim before police arrived.
The three months recommended doesn’t specify if the time is served while incarcerated or on probation, said Commonwealth’s Attorney Richie Bottoms, who said it will be up to Judge Darren Peckler to make that determination. He said it is also unclear what impact the current charges will have on Hundley’s previous probation.
One year ago, in January 2017, Hundley entered a guilty plea in a case involving a February 2016 crash, in which he was driving while under the influence. According to police, Hundley, a police officer at the time, and his passenger, Shaun Boyd, were heading east on Ky. 2168 when Hundley lost control and collided with a vehicle driven by Dwayne Brown of Danville.
No one had serious injuries, according to initial reports, but Hundley and Boyd were taken to the hospital.
Hundley resigned from his position with the Danville Police Department in March 2016. The other driver, Brown, filed a lawsuit against Hundley in July 2016.
Hundley was also placed on administrative leave for a time in November 2015 after allegedly stopping a school bus to confront a child that had been involved in an incident with his daughter.
Hundley is expected to enter a guilty plea to the current charges at 1:30 p.m. on March 6; he will be sentenced at that time.
Also in court on Thursday afternoon, Christopher Hicks entered a guilty plea to charges of three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment and one count of second-degree criminal mischief.
He waived final sentencing and was sentenced to three years for each wanton endangerment charge and 12 months for the charge of criminal mischief; all to run concurrently, meaning he will serve three years.
Hicks is accused of using physical force upon a woman, Donna Phillips, on Oct. 28, 2017, as he committed theft on her property. He is also accused of using a motor vehicle the same day in a way that “created a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury” to Phillips, Carla Martinez and a juvenile, according to files in the Boyle County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.