A Calloway County woman was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison Tuesday afternoon — for illegally transporting the stolen firearm used to murder Caldwell County native and Calloway County Chief Deputy Sheriff Jody Cash in May 2022.
According to court documents, 35-year-old Denise Collins illegally transported and received the munitions on April 25, 2022. It was a Sig Sauer model P365 XL .9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, a stolen firearm from Tennessee brought back to Kentucky.
In turn, she aided and abetted Gary Rowland — who, on May 16 of last year, used a smoke break from custody and an interrogation to shoot and kill Cash on the campus of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office.
Two Marshall County deputies returned fire, killing Rowland.
Along with the prison sentence, Collins was issued three years of supervised release. And there is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett, of the Western District of Kentucky, and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow, of the ATF Louisville Field Division, made Tuesday’s announcement.
In a written statement, Bennett said the “tragic murder of Chief Deputy Cash” serves as a stark reminder for all Kentuckians of the sacrifices made daily by those who wear the badge and keep our communities safe. And that along with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, officials will continue to strategically investigate and aggressively prosecute those who violate federal firearms laws so that the Western District is safer for all who live and work here.
Morrow noted that Kentucky “lost a hero, and a man who dedicated his life to serving the Commonwealth.” Morrow also said this crime is a “terrible reminder” of what can happen when a firearm ends up in the hands of someone prohibited from possessing them.
This particular case was investigated not just by the ATF, but also the Kentucky State Police, the Murray Police Department, the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office and the Paris, Tennessee Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Porter served as prosecutor.