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Suspect in murder of Boone County deputy likely to face life in prison

Plea agreement calls for dropping death penalty
Posted at 5:21 PM, May 28, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-28 23:57:40-04

LEBANON—The man charged in the murder of Boone County Sheriff's Deputy Jacob Pickett is likely to go to prison for life, but will not face the death penalty.

Anthony Baumgardt's plea hearing and sentencing is set for Wednesday morning in Boone County Superior Court.

In April, the Boone County Prosecutor's Office announced a plea deal was in the works for Baumgardt, but specifics of that deal were not made public.

But according to court documents filed Tuesday, Baumgardt is expected to plead guilty to Deputy Pickett's murder and will receive a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

In exchange, he will not face the death penalty.

Baumgardt, 21, is accused of shooting Pickett in March of 2018, after fleeing law enforcement officers in Lebanon.

He was a passenger in a car with two other men that was being chased by police when he got out of the vehicle and ran.

He then shot the 34-year-old deputy before being shot by a Lebanon police officer.

Shortly afterwards, Baumgardt said he had "no remorse" for Pickett's death.