A man accused in a deadly 2022 shooting in Logan County will be sentenced next month after pleading guilty.

Maleek A. Goodson, 27, of Clarksville, Tennessee, entered an Alford plea to charges of second-degree manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence, convicted felon in possession of a handgun and first-degree persistent felony offender.

Goodson was facing a trial set to begin Feb. 3 in connection with the death of Ronald W. Cable, 57, of Lewisburg, who was shot Aug. 11, 2022, outside his home on Deer Lick Road.

In an Alford plea, a defendant denies wrongdoing but acknowledges enough evidence exists for a jury to return a guilty verdict.

Goodson was initially charged with murder, first-degree robbery and tampering with physical evidence.

According to online court records, Goodson’s plea agreement recommends a 20-year prison sentence, and Goodson will be sentenced Feb. 6 by Logan Circuit Judge Joe Hendricks.

The Kentucky State Police investigated Cable’s death.

Witnesses reported that Cable was shot after following a woman to a dark gray SUV and hanging onto the vehicle as it pulled away.

“As the SUV pulled away, witnesses stated that they heard gunshots, and shortly thereafter, Ronald Cable stated that he had been shot,” KSP Detective Gary Travis stated in a complaint warrant.

Detectives examined Cable’s cellphone, finding evidence of contact shortly before the shooting with a number connected to a profile on an online escort service, according to court records.

The account on the escort service website was linked by detectives to Elizabeth Ford, 39, of Clarksville, Tennessee.

A text message exchange appeared to show Cable arranging to pay $500 for prostitution services, according to an affidavit for a search warrant for Goodson’s phone sought by KSP Detective Michael Waggener.

Police later obtained surveillance footage from a Clarksville motel from the day of the shooting that allegedly shows Goodson and Ford leaving a room and driving away in a gray SUV.

Waggener said in his affidavit for a search warrant for Goodson’s phone that the investigation appeared to turn up a $500 payment from Cable to Goodson over CashApp shortly before the shooting took place.

Ford has pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree hindering prosecution or apprehension, tampering with physical evidence and prostitution, and will be sentenced Feb. 27.