Elizabeth Keating will spend at least three years in prison – and faces dozens more years – now that she has admitted to the January attempted murder of her co-worker and friend, Debra Dickens.

Wednesday, June 27, 2001

Elizabeth Keating will spend at least three years in prison – and faces dozens more years – now that she has admitted to the January attempted murder of her co-worker and friend, Debra Dickens.

During Tuesday’s court appearance that lasted just over a half hour, visiting Judge Everett Burton read each charge filed against Mrs. Keating – including charges she used a gun in the commission of a crime and misappropriated Ironton Band Boosters money. Mrs. Keating, 43, responded with a plea of guilty to each charge.

She answered, "Yes," in a low clear voice each time Judge Burton asked her if she understood her actions and the consequences of changing her plea.

In addition to prison time, she faces a maximum fine of $20,000 on the attempted murder charge and fines as much as $2,500 for each of nine theft counts.

Judge Burton ordered a standard pre-sentence investigation, after which Mrs. Keating will be sentenced. The investigation could take three to four weeks, attorneys said.

The defense and prosecution discussed sentencing, but did not agree, Lawrence County Prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr. said.

"It’s clearly a serious matter, had she succeeded well, we wouldn’t be here (Tuesday’s hearing)," he said.

Collier added that the victims seem satisfied with Mrs. Keating’s change in plea.

"As far as a recommendation, I’ve explained it to the band boosters and Ms. Dickens and invited them to present victim impact statements," Collier said.

"No one is happy," he said. "She’s going to pay a price for what she did. I think we had a strong case; I think she realized we had a strong case; and Mark realized we had a strong case.

"We could have gotten a conviction What they’ve done is taken away the trial."

After the hearing, Mrs. Keating’s defense attorney McCown maintained that his client experienced mental stress at the time of the shooting.

Mrs. Keating had entered pleas of not guilty by reason of insanity shortly after her March indictment.

"She suffered from a severe mental defect at the time," McCown said. "That being said, she still feels, regardless of the analysis by doctors, she feels a degree of responsibility for her actions and is willing to waive her defenses."

McCown gave reporters a prepared statement signed by Mrs. Keating in which she apologizes.

The attorney said he will ask for the minimum sentence, although prosecutors will likely ask for more.

"We feel the pre-sentence investigation will favor the sentence be at or near the minimum," McCown said.

That investigation will show, as doctors already have shown, her mental problem, he said. McCown has told the court she suffers from bipolar disorder.

Mrs. Keating also is a first time offender; had spotless record until now; and has been a valued member of the community – all are mitigating factors that will be considered at her sentencing, McCown said.

Elizabeth Keating’s defense attorney, Mark McCown, released this statement Tuesday, just after the hearing where Mrs. Keating pleaded guilty to attempted murder and theft.

"To whom it may concern:

Although I could plead innocent by reason of insanity, I am changing my plea to guilty as I feel I should be held responsible for my actions that day.

I am sorry for the unfortunate incident in which Ms. Dickens was injured. She was my best friend. Doctors have determined that I have a mental condition that causes me to do things under severe stress that I wouldn’t normally do. I will have to take medication the rest of my life to keep this under control.

As for the band boosters, I never took any of their money for my personal use. Bad judgment on my part had me invest $18,000.00 of their money without permission. I don’t know where the figure of $80,000.00 came from.

I would like to thank everyone for their thoughtfulness and caring for my family. I apologize for the pain and suffering my actions have caused.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Keating"