LONDON, KY - Laurel County Sheriff John Root is reporting that: Laurel Sheriff's Deputy Josh Morgan along with K-9 Deputy Gary Mehler and Detective Kyle Gray developed information on the whereabouts of a reported stolen Pepsi machine taken Tuesday night from Ron's Market on Barbourville Highway in Laurel County.
On Thursday, April 2 at approximately 8:26 PM investigators with the Sheriff's office located the stolen Pepsi machine in a damaged condition.
In addition, the pickup truck that had allegedly been used to take the Pepsi machine that had been observed on surveillance video was also found on the property located on Engle Ridge Road, approximately 6 miles South of London (the purple Fox Racing sticker had been scraped off the rear window).
Deputies arrested Michael R. Cornette age 41 of Hopkins Cemetery Rd., Lily charging him with:
- Receiving stolen property under $10,000
In addition, it was determined through investigation that this subject and his pickup truck with the purple Fox Racing sticker (sticker was scraped off) was the same suspect and vehicle observed on security cameras at the Super Car Wash in southern Laurel County on March 4, 2020 that had allegedly damaged vacuum machines there – damage to the vacuums approximated at $500. The pickup was located at this subject's residence.
Michael R. Cornette was also charged with:
- Criminal mischief – second-degree
- Tampering with physical evidence
This individual was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.
Photo of accused attached is courtesy of the Laurel County Correctional Center.
Also pictured is the recovered Pepsi machine and the scraped windshield. Investigation is continuing.
