Sheriff Bobby Jones reports the arrest of a Somerset man for Receiving Stolen Property stemming from an August 2023 theft investigation at Lakeside Memorial Gardens off W. Hwy 80.

On August 7, 2023, Lakeside Memorial Gardens reported the theft of a John Deere excavator and a John Deere Gator UTV from their property off W. Hwy 80. The equipment was believed to have been stolen between August 4 and August 7.

On December 6, 2023, at approximately 5:00 pm, Deputies Seth Gover and James Pitman responded to the area of 260 N. Hart Rd. in Somerset, KY, on a report of found property, believed to be the stolen items from Lakeside Memorial Gardens. Upon their arrival, they were able to locate the John Deere excavator that was reported stolen.

Through investigation, deputies learned that Christopher Shepherd, 39 years of age, Somerset, KY, was a former employee of Lakeside Memorial Gardens. Shepherd was found walking on N. Hart Rd. by deputies and was questioned about the excavator. Shepherd acknowledged the presence of the excavator and stated he had been using it. 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 (VIN) 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.  Detective Branson Patterson obtained a search warrant for Shepherd’s residence on N. Hart Rd., and upon service of the search warrant, they discovered the VIN plate on the Gator UTV was fictitious. When checking the correct VIN, they discovered the Gator UTV was the same one stolen from Lakeside Memorial Gardens.

Shepherd was arrested from the scene and charged with Receiving Stolen Property $10,000 or More, Selling or Receiving a Vehicle with Removed or Altered VIN, Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree, Obscuring the Identity of a Machine $500 < $10,000, Drug Paraphernalia-Buy or Possess and a District Court Warrant for Failure to Appear. Shepherd was lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center.

This investigation is ongoing by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office.