The trial of a Keithsburg man charged with solicitation of murder for hire has ended in a hung jury. The jury foreperson reported to the court Wednesday that they were “hopelessly deadlocked” in the case of 48-year-old Kevin Hockenberry. A mistrial was then declared. Hockenberry was accused of trying to pay someone $10,000 to kill former Mercer County State’s Attorney Meeghan Lee. He has been in custody at the Mercer County Jail awaiting trial on a Class 3 felony of sexual relations within families. That charge is in connection with an alleged incident that occurred in April of 2019. He is also facing felony charges in two other cases including perjury and false reporting as well as two misdemeanor counts of violating an order of protection. Bond on the solicitation of murder for hire charge is set at $500,000. A pre-trial is now set for October 3.
