A man who shot a Breckinridge County deputy has plead guilty to multiple charges.
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 on Wednesday 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), according to a report by WXBC.com.
Ceballos also pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and three counts of second-degree cruelty to animals.
He is currently lodged in the Breckinridge County Detention Center.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 4.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
