Crime

Fayette, Scott County grand juries to hear cases against man charged with deputy’s murder

Steven Sheangshang appeared in Fayette District Court Wednesday via Zoom.
Steven Sheangshang appeared in Fayette District Court Wednesday via Zoom. tsix@herald-leader.com

The man charged with killing a Scott County deputy has three cases scheduled to be heard by a grand jury in Fayette and Scott counties related to a series of events from late May.

Steven Sheangshang, 46, appeared in a Scott County courtroom via Zoom teleconference for his preliminary hearing Tuesday, where he waived his right to a hearing before Judge Bolton Bevins and sent his case directly to the grand jury.

A preliminary hearing is for presenting evidence to a judge who will decide if testimony warrants the charges against a defendant. A grand jury also will hear testimony and determine if charges against a defendant will move over to circuit court.

Sheangshang is charged in Scott County with murder of a police officer, convicted felon in possession of a handgun, burglary, vehicle theft, wanton endangerment and fleeing police. He was arrested on May 23 after allegedly shooting deputy Caleb Conley during a traffic stop on I-75 in Georgetown.

At Sheangshang’s initial Scott County court appearance on June 1, a not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf by Judge Sarah Hays Spedding. A not-guilty plea is required to be entered during a first court appearance. Hays additionally denied a bond for Sheangshang.

He also faces charges in Fayette, Woodford and Kenton counties. Last week, two of Sheangshang’s Fayette County cases were sent to a grand jury, according to court records. The Woodford and Kenton County charges are unrelated to the murder of Conley.

The Fayette charges include assault, robbery, felon in possession of a handgun, tampering with physical evidence, fraudulent use of a credit card and theft by unlawful taking. He reportedly committed the crimes in Lexington after the shooting on I-75.

Sheangshang left the shooting scene and drove to a residence on River Run Court in Georgetown, according to his arrest citation.

Once inside, Sheangshang pointed a handgun at a resident and forced him to provide keys to his vehicle, according to a citation. Sheangshang then drove to Lexington where he allegedly shot a man in the abdomen on Georgetown Road and took his vehicle.

Taylor Six
Lexington Herald-Leader
Taylor Six is the criminal justice reporter at the Herald-Leader. She was born and raised in Lexington attending Lafayette High School. She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 2018 with a degree in journalism. She previously worked as the government reporter for the Richmond Register.
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