Three teens, one of whom is a Kentucky high school football standout who had signed to play at Notre Dame, were charged in an overnight crime spree in Danville.
Danville police said in a Facebook post that Landen Bartleson, 18, of Harrodsburg, and two 16-year-old boys from Danville were arrested and charged in connection with a burglary in which nine guns were stolen from a Danville gun shop, as well as a motor vehicle theft on the Centre College campus.
WLEX reported that Danville Police Chief Tony Gray had confirmed that Bartleson was a Boyle County High School football player.
Police said in the Facebook post that the intruders smashed a window at On Target on Westridge Drive and took “multiple weapons” from inside.
Officers were called to the business at 8:18 a.m. Friday, after the burglary was discovered, and the investigation led them to Bartleson and the two juveniles, police said in the Facebook post.
At the same time, police were investigating the theft of a 2015 Lexus NX200T that was taken from the Centre College campus overnight. Police said they were also able to link Bartleson and the juveniles to that theft.
Police said they recovered all nine weapons. The vehicle was found on Alum Springs Pike.
Bartleson and the juveniles were charged with first-degree burglary, first-degree criminal mischief and receiving stolen property valued at $10,000 or more, police said.
Jail records indicate that Bartleson also faces a charge of second-degree unlawful transaction with a minor.
He was being held Friday night in the Boyle County Detention Center.
The two juveniles were taken to the Adair Regional Juvenile Facility.
Police and the Boyle County Detention Center spelled Bartleson’s first name “Landon.”
Over the past few years, Bartleson has emerged as one of Kentucky’s brightest football stars, helping lead Boyle County to a state championship in 2017 and a runner-up finish in 2019.
Bartleson signed with Notre Dame during college football’s early signing period in December and was expected to enroll at the school in June.
That will not happen now, however, as Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly announced Saturday that the Fighting Irish were parting ways with Bartleson.
“After reviewing all of the facts available to us and speaking with the Bartleson family, we informed them that Landen will no longer be welcomed as a member of our football program,” Kelly’s statement said. “This incident is very much out of character for the man we have come to know and we wish Landen and his family well.”
Bartleson was rated a three-star prospect by all of the major recruiting services. He was rated as the No. 29 cornerback nationally and the No. 6 overall player from Kentucky by 247Sports.com.
At Boyle County, Bartleson played running back and cornerback.
In 2019, he rushed for 404 yards with 12 rushing and two receiving touchdowns. On defense, he made 37 tackles, 21 of them solo, a sack and three interceptions.
Bartleson, who also ran track and field for Boyle County, rushed for 768 yards and 12 TDs in 2018 and 1,142 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2017.
Boyle County won the Class 3A state championship in 2017, reached the 3A state semifinals in 2018 and finished as 4A runner-up after a move up in class in 2019.
The Rebels went 7-5 Bartleson’s freshman year then went 14-1, 13-1 and 14-1.
Herald-Leader Sports Editor Mathew Graf contributed to this report.
This story was originally published January 24, 2020 8:21 PM.
