Bobby R. Conatser, 55, sits as his defense counsel speaks to Judge John T. Alexander during sentencing proceedings Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Conatser pleaded guilty to second degree manslaughter in the killing of Kevin M. Miller.
(PHOTOS BY BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
GLASGOW — A Glasgow man was sentenced Thursday in connection the 2018 death of a Scottsville man.
Bobby R. Conatser, 55, was issued an alternative sentence in Barren County Circuit Court Thursday. The sentencing was originally scheduled Jan. 4, but a coronavirus issue disabled the prosecution to attend.
Conatser shot Kevin M. Miller, 40, in the back on July 8, 2018, after an incident involving his adult daughter, Emily. The killing happened near Conatser’s Lick Branch Road home. He pleaded guilty in December to a second degree manslaughter charge as opposed to facing trial for murder.
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John Gardner, the prosecutor, sought a 10 year sentence without the possibility of standard or shock probation.
Barren Circuit Judge John T. Alexander sentenced Conatser to 30 days in custody with 11 months of home incarceration to follow.
Johnny Bell, Conatser’s attorney, called several witnesses to the stand in a last attempt to persuade the court his client should be considered for probation.
Larry C. Jolly, the defendant’s employer, was called to testify on Conatser’s behalf. He described times when Conatser had to leave work to handle issues around his home.
“Bobby had to take off just pretty regular. The guy he rented off of — he was right behind him — and he would call pretty regular saying somebody’s breaking in your house,” Jolly said. “And Bobby would have to go home. That happened many times. I don’t know how many. I didn’t keep count, but it happened many times.”
Todd Holmes, Conatser’s brother-in-law, took the stand. He described times he was aware Miller abused Emily. Holmes also explained Miller often stalked the Conatser family.
“The one I recollect most of all is he had broken into the house and beat up on Emily Conatser,” Holmes said.
The witness also said Miller taunted the family after those events.
“It’s almost like when she was away from her he couldn’t stay away from her. He was a stalker,” Holmes said. “He stalked them all the time. That’s all you could make out of it.”
Russell L. Sales, the Conatser family’s neighbor, said Miller was “looking in the windows” before the time surrounding his death.
The defense called Conatser’s daughter to testify. Her testimony mostly surrounded the abusive relationship she had with Miller.
“Numerous time I tried getting away, he’d black my eye,” Conatser said. “I’d go home. He’d find me there and come in the house — beat me up there.”
The prosecution inquired about Emily’s drug use and her requests for Miller to bring her drugs. She said she never did when she stayed at her parents’ home where Miller’s murder happened.
Bobby was apparently aware of domestic violence in their relationship, she said.
Though the defense and witnesses said Conatser is “very remorseful,” Miller’s daughter said she felt different. The young woman provided a victim’s impact statement.
“I hate you so much. I will never forgive you,” Miller said. “Every single happy moment in my life has a black cloud hanging over it because my dad isn’t a part of it.”
The judge said his position was based on testimonies heard Thursday and prior review of other case materials. Alexander explained state law allows a defendant to be eligible for probation even when someone is killed. The stipulation shifts when domestic violence is involved.
While the judge did not issue a sentencing with probation Thursday, he sought to keep Conatser out of custody for the prosecutor’s recommended 10 years.
Conatser was also not issued probation due to another law which prohibits it when it could lessen the offense of the crime. The judge said he believed the defendant to be of low “criminogenic risk.”
