Randall Bracey expected to plead guilty to lesser charges

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May 11, 2012

Randall Bracey expected to plead guilty to lesser charges

By TARA SCHMELZ tara.schmelz@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Fri May 11, 2012, 06:02 PM EDT

CHARLESTOWN — A Charlestown man accused of attempted murder has filed a plea agreement to lesser charges.

Randall L. Bracey, 38, was charged with attempted murder, criminal confinement, battery [2 charges], receiving stolen property, carrying a handgun without a license, possession of a schedule I, II, III or IV controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia and being a habitual offender. According to the probable-cause affidavit, Charlestown Police were contacted on Jan. 29, 2011, by a person who wanted to report the assault of her friend, who was being treated at University of Louisville Hospital, after allegedly being attacked and tortured by Bracey.

The victim, who is Bracey’s sister, had told police that Bracey came to her home around 6 a.m. and held her in the bathroom for hours. She said he also fired at the door of the home. At one point, she said he attempted to shoot her in the head, pulling the trigger, but had run out of ammunition. She said in the affidavit that he seemed to be high on methamphetamine.

The preliminary agreement, which is expected to be entered into court on Monday, has Bracey pleading guilty to carrying a handgun without a license, a C felony, possession of a controlled substance, a D felony, possession of marijuana, a D felony, possession of paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor, and being a habitual offender. The sentence listed in the agreement is eight years, with five years suspended upon strict terms of probation, for the handgun charge, three years for the controlled substance charge, three years for the marijuana charge and one year for the paraphernalia charge. All those are to run concurrent with one another. The habitual offender sentence is listed as seven years, suspended to strict terms of probation.

“Many times, people that are victims of crimes, afterward they do not want to go through with a trial, especially when family is involved,” Prosecutor Jeremy Mull said. “We went along with her wishes and came to an agreement that reflected those.”

Bracey is expected to plead guilty on Monday; however, he can refuse and ask for a jury trial.

Christopher Sturgeon was listed online as Bracey’s attorney. He did not return a call seeking comment by press deadline.