Dungan sentenced to 40 years

Voice Staff Report

Mark L. Dungan of Science Hill, KY appeared before the Honorable Dan Ballou on March 2, 2022 in McCreary Circuit Court and received a final judgment and sentence on his entered plea of guilty to seven counts on January 19, 2022 . Judge Ballou sentenced Dungan to a total of 40 years. 

Dungan was initially charged with seven counts including six felonies: Attempted Murder (Police Officer), Tampering with Physical Evidence, Criminal Mischief, (1st Degree), Convicted Felon in Possession of a Handgun, Fleeing or Evading Police (1st Degree) Wanton Endangerment (1st Degree – Police Officer) and Resisting Arrest. Dungan entered his guilty plea with only one amendment to the original charges. The only amendment was amending the initial charge of Attempted Murder (Police Officer) to Assault 2nd degree. 

In July of 2019, while working as a McCreary County Deputy, Dustin Tyler Watkins responded to a call for a status check. When Watkins arrived at the scene he saw Mark Dungan sitting in a vehicle on the property and went to investigate. Dungan pulled a weapon and discharged it at the Deputy, striking him twice and leaving him with life-threatening injuries. When Dungan left the scene he met Constable Cody Stephens on the road and rammed and disabled the Constable’s vehicle. Dungan was subsequently tracked down to a nearby cemetery and apprehended after a short standoff with Kentucky State Police Troopers. 

Watkins faced a lengthy and extensive recovery period following the shooting.