A Caneyville man has been sentenced for drug trafficking and endangering his children in an incident in August 2024 where he dropped off his two small children at school, and fled from a Grayson County deputy who was attempting a traffic stop.
In a plea deal, 42-year-old Russell Moore, pled guilty in a Grayson County courtroom to trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine, his third such offense) and two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, according to sentencing documents.
He was formally sentenced to eight years in prison last week.
The vehicle, being driven by Moore, briefly fled west on East Maple Street (Hwy 62) before Moore stopped and fled on foot in the 500 block of East Maple.
He was quickly captured by Owens, who located a glass methamphetamine pipe on Moore’s person, the citation states.
During a search of the Nissan, police located in the front passenger seat floorboard a “large black nylon bag,” the citation says.
“Inside that bag was (a) children’s Disney book and tracing stencils. Also located in the bag was a small zipper pouch that had ‘First Aid Kit’ written on it that contained numerous syringes and needles, a metal spoon with residue and pieces of cotton,” according to the citation.
Based on the children’s materials being in the bag with drugs and drug paraphernalia, the citation states that police determined the children would have access to the bag and its contents.
Moore was originally charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), two counts of fleeing or evading police (on foot, motor vehicle), and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was later charged with trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine).
A passenger and the children’s mother, 33-year-old Brittany D. Shoptaw, was initially charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was also later charged with trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine).
Shoptaw was released from custody, according to the Kentucky Department of Corrections (KDC), on or around November 18, 2025, after she was found guilty of trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). She is on probation until November 2030.
In a separate case, Moore was granted shock probation after being convicted in Edmonson County in 2019 for possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), according to the KDC. He was on probation until December 2024.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
