Wanted sheriff, drug cop killed

David L. Huber, United States attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, announced Wednesday, Dec. 7 that Harold G. Hankins, 81, of 615 Dawson Road, Russellville, was sentenced to 26 years and 10 months in prison.

The punishment is for manufacturing 100 or more marijuana plants, possessing firearms to protect his marijuana, retaliating against two law enforcement officers by threatening to kill or cripple them by shooting them, and soliciting the murder or the crippling of two law enforcement officers.

Federal agents and police found 212 marijuana plants, with a street value of approximately $400,000, on or near Hankins' property.

Hankins was previously convicted at trial by a federal jury in United States District Court in Bowling Green. The federal jury returned a guilty verdict on all accounts. There is no parole in the federal judicial system.

On July 27, 2004, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Central Kentucky Drug Task Force, and the Logan County Sheriff's Office executed a state search warrant at Hankins' residence.

Law enforcement also recovered drug scales, drug paraphernalia and other items used to cultivate marijuana on and around Hankins property. Additionally, law enforcement seized numerous firearms that Hankins used to protect his marijuana plants.

Hankins was arrested on state charges. The South Central Drug Task Force initiated forfeiture proceedings on Hankins' property. Subsequent to the initiation of the forfeiture proceedings, Hankins solicited the murder of Director Jim Devasher of the South Central Drug Task Force and Logan County Sheriff Wallace Whittaker.

Hankins' threats to murder director Devasher and Sheriff Whittaker were reported to Special Agent David Hayes of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) assigned to the Bowling Green field office.

Agent Hayes, using a confidential informant, taped three conversations with Hankins in November 2004. Hankins repeatedly threatened to murder or cripple Director Devasher and Sheriff Whittaker in retaliation for exercising their official law enforcement duties.

Hankins also solicited the hiring of a hit man to murder or cripple Director Devasher and Sheriff Whittaker. On several occasions, Hankins stated that if he could not get a hit man then he would shoot them himself.

Hankins stated that shooting Director Devasher and Sheriff Whittaker would send a message to marijuana growers in Logan County.

Hankins was charged for knowingly threatening to kill and cripple two law enforcement officers with the intent to retaliate against them, and for soliciting another person to murder or cripple two law enforcement officers.

The maximum potential penalties are life imprisonment, a $3.25 million fine, and supervised release for a period of four years.

The case was prosecuted by assistant United States Attorneys Brian Butler and Trent J. Sandifer and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Central Drug Task Force, and the Logan County Sheriff's Office.