Laurel County man accepts plea deal in stolen weed eater case

LONDON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — A Laurel County man at the center of a controversial theft and deadly police response has accepted a plea deal.

According to court records, 49-year-old Hobert Buttery pleaded guilty to stealing a weed eater from Laurel County Judge-Executive David Westerfield’s home. Investigators say Buttery admitted to the theft and claimed the stolen item could be found at a home on Vanzant Road.

Buttery now faces 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. His formal sentencing is scheduled for August 13.

As previously reported, police serving a search warrant at 511 Vanzant Road — the wrong address — shot and killed 63-year-old Doug Harless. That part of the case remains under investigation.

ABC36 News Now will continue to follow updates in both investigations.