A man who shot a Breckinridge County deputy has been sentenced to prison.
Julio Morales Ceballos, 54, of Hardinsburg, was arrested by Kentucky State Police after shooting a deputy who was responding to a domestic dispute on Hwy 2779 (north of Hardinsburg) on Saturday night January 11, 2025. He also shot two police cruisers before fleeing into a nearby wooded area.
The deputy suffered non-life threatening injuries.
The suspect was arrested the day after the shooting following a search by the Breckinridge County Sheriff’s Office, the Hardinsburg and Irvington Police Departments, Kentucky State Police, and the KSP Aviation branch.
Ceballos was initially charged with attempted murder of a peace officer, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and fourth-degree assault (domestic violence — minor injury). Charges including two counts of attempted murder (domestic violence) and cruelty to animals were later added.
He pled guilty February 4, 2026, in a Breckinridge County courtroom to four class B felonies (punishable by up to 20 years in prison on each count) — Two counts of attempted murder (first responder) and two counts of attempted murder (domestic violence).
Ceballos also pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and three counts of second-degree cruelty to animals.
He was formally sentenced on Wednesday to 20 years each on the four attempted murder counts, 10 years for possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, five years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one year for each of the second-degree cruelty to animals counts, according to WXBC.com
The sentences will run concurrently for a total of 20 years.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
