Daily News Article "Copass Gets Life in Prison", 2014 August 20

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Posted
— Wednesday,
August 20,
2014 10:15
am

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By J USTIN
STORY The
Daily News

jstory@ bgdailynews.com 783-3256 |
SCOTTSVILLE — Charles Copass will never see
freedom again. That’ s what the family of his victims
‘wanted.

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“T gotjust what I wanted,” said Diane Mahaney, the
grandmother of slain 22-year-old Chelsey Mahaney.
Chelsey was four months pregnant at the time of her
bnutal June 11, 2012, murder. “I just don’t want
another family to go through what we went through.”

Copass, who admitted killing Chelsey and her
unbom son, was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison
‘without the possibility of parole.

An autopsy report documented that Chelsey suffered.
51 stab wounds.

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hitp:/www_bgdail ynews.com/news/copass-gets life-in-prisorVartidle 921fllbc2-54c3-5b02-84fe-75F4c1244d1 0.himi [8/20/2014 2:49:12 PM]
CCopass gets life in prison - Bowling Green Daily News: News

The family, several of whom wore commemorative T-shirts printed with Chelsey’s likeness, had expressed.a
preference that Copass be sentenced to life without parole.

1938 2013
Copass, 36, of Scottsville, entered an unconditional guilty plea in February to murder, first-degree fetal

homicide, first-degree robbery, theft by unlawful taking (greater than $10,000) and tampering with physical

nee COWS

Copass admitted to fatally stabbing Chelsey, 22, of Scottsville at his house on Barren River Dam Road, Warren[iiee
nigte

taking her cellphone and car and attempting to clean up the crime scene.

The life sentence was imposed on the murder count alone. Copass received 25-year sentences on the fetal Se

homicide and robbery charges, a 15-year sentence for the theft count and five years for tampering with
physical evidence.

Allen Circuit Judge Janet Crocker ordered those sentences, totaling 70 years, to be served consecutively to
one another and concurrently to the murder conviction.

Copass did not give a statement to the court Tuesday, but was wamed by Crocker to observe courtroom.
decorum when he interrupted Allen County Commonwealth's Attomey Clint Willis’ closing argument.

Crocker’ s sentence concluded a case that authorities called one of the most gruesome in recent memory.

“This is simply one of the most honible crimes that Allen County has ever seen,” Willis said.

e-Edition

Final sentencing occurred a month after a three-day hearing was held in which prosecution and defense
‘witnesses offered evidence and testimony meant to factor into the severity of Copass’ punishment. A digital replica of the Daily News

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Detectives from the Allen County Sheriff’ s Office and the Kentucky State Police who testified at last
month's hearing remarked on the grisly nature of the crimes, and Willis referred to their testimonies during
his closing argument.

Daityé News ===

“We have a situation where a young lady was pregnant, she was killed in a honible manner,” Willis said. , Conass gets life in prison
“Words fail you when you try to describe it.” filling te init sie ee
up fast

Willis argued that while Copass may have felt remorseful in the aftermath of the slaying, his remorse
concemed how he affected his own life instead of the effect his actions had on Mahaney’ s family.

BEACH SALUT

Diane Mahaney said after the hearing that the death penalty was the “quick way out” for Copass in
explaining the family’s preferred punishment.

Mahaney said that life without parole also offers the best assurance that Copass would not commit further
crimes that could have a similar effect on another victim's family.

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“T’ll never be able to put this behind me,” Mahaney said. “When he took (my granddaughter), he took part
of my heart and that hole in my heart will never be filled.”

Although Willis filed paperwork earlier in the case signaling his intent to seek the death penalty, he noted
‘Tuesday that Mahaney’ s surviving relatives’ preference for life without parole for Copass was a reasonable
request.

“Their concems are they need closure,” Willis said. “They will never get over this, but they’ ve got to have a
start.” Rea Autos Jobs

‘http://www. bgdailynews.com/news/copass-gets-life-in-prison/article_921f1bc2-54c3-5b02-84fo- 75f4c1244d1 0. himl[ 8/20/2014 2:49:12 PM]
CCopass gets life in prison - Bowling Green Daily News: News

Copass’ criminal history, which includes a conviction for third-degree rape stemming froma relationship
with an underage girl, was brought up at both last month’s hearing and Tuesday’ s court appearance.

Defense witnesses who testified last month said that Copass seemed to have difficulty re-entering society
after his release from prison on the rape conviction.

Copass was involved in a relationship with another underage gin at the time of the murder, and Willis
referred in his closing argument to testimony from law enforcement and a Copass relative last month that
Copass intended to use Chelsey’ s cellphone to send text messages to the two underage girls in an attempt to
lure them to him so that he might kill them.

Capital trial attomeys Michael Bufkin and Pat Roemer represented Copass.
Bufkin argued Tuesday that Copass’ “stressful, unpredictable home environment,” in which he was
‘subjected to physical, verbal and emotional abuse, constituted a mitigating factor for Crocker to consider at.

sentencing.

Bufkin also noted that Copass demonstrated remorse for his actions by making arrangements to tum himself
in to law enforcement and cooperating with authorities investigating the crimes.

“We did the best we could, and we appreciate the court giving hima life sentence,” Bufkin said after the
hearing.

Copass has a right to appeal the sentence. Bufkin said he will discuss that option with Copass.

— Follow courts reporter J ustin Story on Twitter at twitter. com/jstorydailynews or visit bgdailynews.com,

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Posted in News on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 10:15 am.

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