Woman admits to shooting husband once, not twice

Penny Croley

A Barbourville woman admitted in court Monday morning that she shot her husband on July 4, 2015, and conceded that prosecutors likely had enough evidence to convict her of shooting him again on Aug. 22, 2015, although she maintains she’s innocent in the second shooting case.

Penny Lynn Croley, 46, pled guilty Monday to one count of second-degree assault in connection with the July case and entered an Alford plea to a second count of second-degree assault in connection to the August case in exchange for prosecutors recommending a 10-year prison sentence.

An Alford plea means that Croley still maintains her innocence but acknowledges that prosecutors likely had enough evidence to convict her at trial.

Both assault cases involved Croley’s husband, Stoney Grubb, and involved him allegedly being shot with a .22 caliber rifle.

“She admitted that she assaulted her husband one time but not the second time. However, she also admitted that it was by no means clear that a jury would have found her innocent,” said her attorney, James Wren II.

Wren noted that Croley and Grubb are still married but he told Whitley Circuit Judge Dan Ballou in court Monday morning that he wouldn’t say the two have “patched” things up.
Croley also entered an Alford plea Monday in an unconnected 2014 case to charges of second-degree burglary, first-degree criminal mischief and two counts of theft. Wren said she denies guilt in that case too.

Sentences in all three cases will run concurrent, or at the same time, and total 10 years.gone to trial, the evidence would have shown that she did not burglarize the residence,” Wren added.

As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors also agreed not to pursue persistent felony offender or felon in possession of a firearm charges against Croley in connection with the cases, Wren said.

Ballou scheduled a March 7 formal sentencing hearing for Croley.