Published: April 29, 2008 03:19 pm      

Duct Tape Bandit pleads guilty

CATLETTSBURG — He’s “the alleged” Duct Tape Bandit no longer.

On Tuesday, Kasey G. Kazee, admitted what the world pretty much knew all along — that he, in fact, was the man responsible for the infamous “Duct tape Bandit” robbery at Shamrock Liquors this past summer.

Kazee’s trial was set to begin next month. However, Kazee apparently did the math and did the homework and determined that he would be better off accepting a plea deal.

Kazee, of Ashland, pleaded guilty in Boyd Circuit Court to one count of second-degree robbery in connection with the liquor store holdup that generated national and international headlines, spawned dozens of Internet parodies and made him the poster child for criminal stupidity.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, Kazee will be sentenced to 10 years in prison, the maximum for the charge. Because he wasn’t armed when he robbed Shamrock Liquors on Aug. 10, he will not be classified as a violent offender, meaning he will be eligible for parole consideration after he has served 20 percent, or two years, of his sentence.

Kazee, 25, has been in custody ever since the incident, meaning he already has nearly nine months’ credit for time served. He can also shave additional time off his sentence by earning statutory “good time” while he is behind bars.

Boyd Commonwealth’s Attorney David Justice said he doubted that Kazee would make parole on his first attempt. And, even after he has finished his Kentucky sentence, Kazee still owes the state of Ohio three years for a 2001 robbery conviction in Lawrence County, he said.

Kazee was on parole on from Ohio at the time of the Kentucky offense, Justice said.

See Wednesday’s Independent for more details.

KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.