Lexington judge rejects plea deal for woman charged with stealing from UK coach
The trial of a former employee for the University of Kentucky women’s basketball team will proceed after a Lexington judge rejected a plea deal that would have ended the case.
Marjorie Gonzalez, 45, appeared in court Tuesday in the hopes of pleading guilty to theft for allegedly stealing more than $30,000 worth of clothes and shoes from former UK Women’s basketball coach Kyra Elzy. A plea deal — negotiated between the defense and an out-of-town special prosecutor — recommended Gonzalez serve five years in prison.
But Fayette Circuit Judge Lucy VanMeter shot down the deal. Elzy had written a letter to the judge urging VanMeter not to accept the plea deal.
“We respectfully DO NOT support this proposed resolution,” the letter read. “This case has already been significantly prolonged due to Ms. Gonzalez’s prior decisions, including rejecting an earlier 7.5-year offer and withdrawing her guilty plea after the Court imposed a 16-year sentence.”
Gonzalez was indicted in October 2023 after she was found to have removed trash bags of clothes and shoes from Elzy’s home, according to an arrest citation. Gonzalez then sold the clothes and shoes at consignment shops throughout Lexington, including a pair of “Nike Kobe shoes” valued at $3,000.
Gonzalez is also accused of stealing money from an organization that serves “underprivileged children.” At the time of the crimes, Gonzalez worked as Elzy’s personal assistant.
This was not Gonzalez’s first attempt to plead guilty in the case.
In May 2025, she pleaded guilty to several charges and faced eight years in prison. But she withdrew that plea in June, saying she wanted to take her case to trial.
The special prosecutor, Jason Hiltz, of Covington, said the five-year recommendation was in accordance with other cases “similarly situated” in the courts.
Gonzalez’s trial will continue as scheduled for June 15.
