The retrial of a Keithsburg man charged with solicitation of murder for hire has been scheduled for later this fall. Kevin Hockenberry’s first trial ended in a hung jury. The jury foreperson reported to the court in late August that they were “hopelessly deadlocked”.
The new jury trial has been scheduled for Nov. 28 and 29 in Mercer County Circuit Court. A final pre-trial is set for Oct. 18.
Hockenberry is 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. Hockenberry remains in custody at the Mercer County Jail.
