Bell County man accepts plea deal in case involving death of 17-month-old
BELL COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – A Bell County man connected to the death of a 17-month-old child is facing 20 years in prison after a judge accepted his plea agreement earlier today, according to WRIL Radio.
As part of the agreement, a murder charge against 44-year-old Harvey Gollahan was dismissed. Three criminal abuse charges were also amended to lesser criminal abuse offenses.
Under the terms of the plea, Gollahan will serve five years consecutively for the amended criminal abuse offenses, as well as for a separate Bell County indictment involving multiple charges.
Gollahan is also serving a 51-month federal sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
As previously reported, Gollahan was charged in connection with the death of 17-month-old Elena Hembree. Investigators say the child died in July 2023 after suffering injuries consistent with blunt force trauma.
