An eastern Kentucky man has been sentenced to life in prison in the violent kidnapping of a woman and shooting a police officer.
Jonathan Lee Smithers, 41, of Catlettsburg, was sentenced on Monday in U.S. District Court in Ashland.
According to prosecutors, as part of his plea agreement, Smithers admitted that on May 1, 2022, “he physically abused a victim with whom he had been in a romantic relationship.”
“Then, under threat of force and using a firearm, he made the victim accompany him to a store where he brandished a weapon, assaulted her with the weapon, and confined her inside the vehicle,” prosecutors said.
Smithers then drove her to the Flatwoods area of Greenup County and, after again confining her inside the vehicle, Smithers stopped the car and forced her to exit. He made the woman accompany him on foot, requiring her to climb fences, trespass on private property, and navigate random routes around the area for several hours, according to prosecutors.
She was eventually able to escape and hide from Smithers. Law enforcement found her collapsed at a gas station.
After the victim’s escape, Smithers remained in the area on foot. Local law enforcement responded and Smithers was spotted coming out of the woods. When approached by officers, Smithers shot Flatwoods Police Officer Tommy Robinson in the neck. Robinson survived the shooting.
Smithers was able to initially escape arrest but was captured early the next morning.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
