LONDON, KY - Laurel County Sheriff John Root is reporting that: On Monday, June 9th, 2025, William Joseph Malicoat, age 43, of London pled guilty in Laurel Circuit Court to Convicted Felon in Possession of a Handgun to a recommended sentence of 13 years regarding an investigation conducted by Laurel Sheriff's Detective Tommy Houston and other Sheriff's investigators.
On February 28th, 2025 Laurel Deputies were dispatched by London – Laurel County 911 Communication Ctr. to a gunshot victim complaint off U.S. 25 approximately 2 miles north of London at an outside shed behind a residence there.
When deputies arrived at the scene, they learned that allegedly three individuals were in a shed behind the residence when one individual identified as: Jacob Hurley age 27 of East Bernstadt was accidentally shot in the hand while cleaning a pistol. Also present during the incident was Hurley's girlfriend and another male subject identified as William Joseph Malicoat.
Allegedly Malicoat fled the scene with a pistol that had been involved in the shooting. Laurel Sheriff's Deputy Bobby Roberts located Malicoat approximately one quarter of a mile away from the scene of the shooting at a business off U.S. 25 and found Malicoat in possession of the firearm from the shooting.
Malicoat was taken into custody and charged with:
- Possession of a handgun by a convicted felon
William Joseph Malicoat is lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.
Photo of accused attached is courtesy of the Laurel County Correctional Center.
Laurel Sheriff's investigators assisting at the scene were: Laurel Sheriff's Capt. Chris Edwards, Detective Taylor McDaniel, Deputy Bobby Roberts, and Deputy Gilbert Acciardo. Laurel Sheriff's Detective Tommy Houston was the case officer on the investigation.
RELATED ARTICLE: WANTED LONDON, KY MAN LOCATED, ARRESTED DURING SHOOTING INVESTIGATION IN LAUREL CO.
