Former Northern Kentucky lawyer accused in attempted murder-for-hire plot held in Shelby County

A former Northern Kentucky attorney, Chase Cox, is accused in federal court of participating in an attempted murder-for-hire plot, according to a report from WAVE. Cox is currently being held at the Shelby County Detention Center, where he remains pending proceedings in the case.

The charge stems from federal allegations that Cox sought to arrange the attempted murder of another person through a third party. The federal case includes two counts related to the alleged attempted murder-for-hire conduct, the WAVE report said.

Under the federal sentencing exposure described in the report, if Cox is convicted on both counts, the penalties could include up to 15 years in federal prison, a $500,200 fine, and six years of supervised release. The report framed those figures as the potential maximums associated with conviction on the counts as charged.

As of publication, the allegations have not been proven in court. The case is proceeding through the federal judicial process, where the prosecution must prove the government’s claims beyond a reasonable doubt and the defense will be afforded opportunities to challenge the evidence and testimony presented.

Public safety officials and federal prosecutors have increasingly treated murder-for-hire schemes as serious threats, because they can involve coordinated planning and the risk of violence even when the plot does not reach fruition. The court’s handling of detention status and any pretrial motions will shape how quickly the case moves toward resolution.