Somerset man accused of stealing excavator, UTV from former employer

SOMERSET, Ky. (WTVQ) — A Somerset man was arrested Wednesday after being accused of stealing an excavator and UTV from his former employer.

According to Pulaski County Sheriff Bobby Jones, Christopher Shepherd was found in possession of a John Deere excavator and a John Deere UTV that was stolen from the Lakeside Memorial Gardens cemetery in early August.

On Dec. 6, deputies found the equipment and said they saw Shepherd walking on the road near the equipment and asked him some questions.

“Shepherd also advised that he had a John Deere Gator UTV at his residence but claimed he had possessed it for some time. Deputies requested consent from Shepherd to see the Gator UTV and, upon checking the Vehicle Identification Number on the vehicle, believed the VIN plate to be fictitious. When they requested to see the VIN plate a second time, Shepherd would not let them look,” Sheriff Jones said.

The sheriff’s office obtained a warrant, searched the property and determined the equipment was stolen from the cemetery.

Shepherd is charged with receiving stolen property ($10,000 or more), selling or receiving a vehicle with removed or altered VIN, criminal mischief, obscuring the identity of a machine ($500<$10,000), drug paraphernalia and a district court warrant for failure to appear.