Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Pair charged with plotting man’s death; police say they tried to buy grenade



Published by H-L Justice Teamon March 11, 2009in Police.



By Greg Kocher, gkocher1@herald-leader.com

VERSAILLES –A Harrodsburg man and woman were charged Tuesday with conspiracy to murder for allegedly planning to kill the woman’s ex-husband, Kentucky State Police said.

State police arrested Lavena K. Lear, 26, and Mark A. Jackson, 25, in Versailles. They were taken to the Woodford County jail.

The two discussed ways to complete their plans to kill Lear’s ex-husband, Brian Keith Lear, 30, of Harrodsburg, state police said in a release. Through an undercover investigation, Lavena Lear and Jackson purchased what they thought was a real grenade to use in those plans, police said.

The transaction through an undercover police officer took place in Versailles, where the Lears lived before moving to Harrodsburg, said Versailles Police Detective James Fugate. Versailles police assisted state police in the arrests.

The Lears were married in Mercer County in April 2004, were separated in July 2005, and were divorced in January 2006, according to Woodford court records.

Together they had one son, 4, and Lavena had another son, 6, from another relationship, according to court records.

Woodford court records indicate the marriage was turbulent, with Keith Lear accused of twice violating a domestic violence order. In 2005, Keith Lear had pulled a telephone out of the wall as Lavena tried to call police. He paid a $146.50 in fines and court costs in that case.

In 2006, Lavena Lear said Keith Lear had struck her back with a lamp during an argument. That charge was later dismissed.

The investigation is continuing.

Greg Kocher covers Jessamine County for the Herald-Leader. Reach him in the Nicholasville bureau at (859) 885-5775.

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