Breathitt County Schools Superintendent Arch Turner is in jail after a judge said he violated conditions of his bond. Court records show Turner had contact with his co-defendant, John L. Turner, in a federal vote buying case. Turner’s attorney says they will not appeal the ruling, which means the superintendent will remain in jail until the end of his trial. “There was no question there was a violation of the court’s order about having contact with witnesses or other co-defendants. We’re just going to continue to vigorously get ready for trial and proceed and present our case at trial and defend him to the best of our ability and work for his acquittal,” Brent Caldwell said.

Arch Turner is behind bars.

Turner maintains his innocence. An indictment accuses Turner of conspiring with John Turner to buy votes in the May 2010 primary election. It also alleges that Arch Turner influenced another person to falsely testify before a grand jury that he had no knowledge of buying votes. Turner faces up to 20 years in prison if he is convicted. His trial is set to begin July 30th in Lexington.

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Turner’s indictment and arrest comes on the heels of several other indictments and convictions in what is turning out to be one of the biggest vote buying incidents in recent memory. If this investigation has shown anything, it is the fact that the State of Kentucky and Federal officials are serious about trying to put an end to small town voting corruption and this is only the tip of the iceberg in the illegal voting practices in Breathitt County. Citizens and local print media have played a big part in keeping this story out in the public eye. We will have more on this story as more indicments and arrests are made.

County Judge Executive Harvey Richardson's vehicle after mysterious crash.

East KY Media has made calls to the County Judges office, Sheriff’s office, County Attorney, Towing Company and KY State police Public Relations officials. Here are the responses we got when we asked about the accident: (Note, these calls were made Wednesday & Thursday immediately after finding out about who the vehicle belonged to.)

Tony Watts KSP Public Relations via email; “I was also contacted by WYMT and I have checked with the dispatchers and Tpr. Hollon. We responded to that wreck and it was an official county vehicle, however noone was around and a report was not done for that reason. That’s all I have at this time. Sorry” - Tony

Sheriff Ray Clemons, Breathitt County Sheriff, via Phone Call; “We cannot investigate the wreck because it involves a State vehicle, it is a conflict of interest for us to get involved in the investigation. It is State Police’s job to investigate the crash.”

County Attorney Brendon Miller via phone call; “I have not been notified of the incident as of right now.”

Breathitt County Judge Executive Office, Secratary Mary (Judge Richardson was unavailable); “It is the first we have heard about this.”

(Name with held at request from County Judges Office); “I was told by Judge Richardson that while he was taking a shower, his County SUV was stolen. That’s all I know”

Noble’s Body & Towing Representative; “We arrived on scene and loaded vehicle onto roll back and it was taken to the County Garage. It was un loaded there.”

(Name withheld at request); A County employee was wtnessed removing beer cans from the County vehicle after it was unloaded at the County garage. Unclear why you would remove evidence from a possible stolen vehicle.

As of right now, there appears to be no action taken on this accident of a County Vehicle. There is a Fiscal Court meeting coming up on Tuesday April 24th at 10:00am. this would be a good time to ask questions about what happened to your tax funded County vehicle. How is going to be reported to the State insurance Company KACO?

If it is an accident by the Judge, why did he leave the scene and why did A County and or State owned SUV, contain beer cans?

If it was indeed stolen, why hasn’t anyone filed a police report on it? If it was stolen, why would a County employee have to remove the beer cans from it. Couldn’t authorities obtain finger prints from the cans? Were the cans placed in sealed plastic bags upon their removal?

Why wasn’t this immediately reported to the County attorney, (Note: this is not uncommon in Breathitt County. Most accidents are not formally reported to the County Attorney)

Most disturbing to me is the Sheriff’s comments he cannot investigate a possible crime because of a conflict of interest? There is no conflict of interest in a crime, is there?

If it is a drunk driving case, we should all be thankful a County vehicle didn’t crash in to someones family, your mother, father, kids or a family friend. 

Also, why were keys left in the vehicle at that late of an hour.

No one is pointing fingers at anyone but the whole situation raises several questions about the use of tax payer vehicles. There should be a very simple explaination in this case. Either the Judge wrecked it and walked away from an accident scene, or it was indeed stolen, not reported and evidence was removed. We will provide more information as it becomes available in this case.

Right now, it appears that nothing is being done and tax payers in the end will foot the bill.

Election Fraud investigation continues

LEXINGTON — The  Breathitt County Schools Superintendent faces additional allegations relating to his participation in a vote buying conspiracy.

According to a superseding indictment returned yesterday, Arch Turner, 66, of Booneville, Ky., conspired with John L. Turner, also of Booneville to buy votes in the May 2010 primary election. The new indictment also alleges that Arch Turner influenced another individual to commit perjury. Turner allegedly instructed this individual to falsely testify before a grand jury that he had no knowledge of buying votes.

Arch Turner was originally indicted on March 1, 2012 for conspiracy to buy votes in the fall 2010 election in Breathitt County. He also was charged with obstructing justice and making false statements to a federal agent. John Turner was not charged in the original indictment.

Kerry B. Harvey, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Perrye Turner, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Jack Conway, Attorney General of Kentucky, Office of the Attorney General, jointly made the announcement today.

The investigation preceding the Indictment was conducted by the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office and the FBI. The Indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth R. Taylor and trial attorney Brian Lichter with the Public Integrity Section of the United States Department of Justice.

The defendants’ appearances before the United States District Court have not yet been set. If convicted, Arch Turner faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, and John L. Turner faces a maximum prison sentence of five years. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of sentences.

The indictment of a person by a grand jury is an accusation only, and that person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Copy of Indictment provided in press release from USDOJ.

Turner Superseeding Indictment -

How many people risked their freedom for a handful of money?

LEXINGTON — Three Breathitt County men admitted their roles in a conspiracy
to buy votes during the May 2010 primary election in Breathitt County.

Joseph Strong, 51, George Daniel Strong, 53, and Richard L. Turner, 54, pleaded
guilty to a conspiracy charge yesterday. Seven people have now either pleaded guilty or
been convicted by a jury for taking part in vote buying conspiracies in the 2010 primary
election in Breathitt County.

Court documents state that during the primary election, George Strong provided
Richard Turner with vote buying money. Turner was given several thousand dollars from
Strong and others in the parking lot of an elementary school in Breathitt County. He
approached voters and offered to pay them to vote for a slate of candidates for various offices
on the ballot. Turner transported voters to the poles and paid them after they voted.

Joseph Strong admitted that as part of the conspiracy, several voters lied about having
a disability in order to qualify for assistance at the voting machine. Knowing that they were
being paid for their vote, Strong assisted them in voting for the slate of candidates the
conspiracy members wanted in office.

The men were indicted in November of last year.

Earlier this week, in a separate case, two people were convicted and another pleaded
guilty to conspiring to buy votes for a candidate for Breathitt County Magistrate in the May
210 primary election.

Kerry B. Harvey, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Perrye Turner,
Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Jack Smith, Chief of the Public Integrity Section at the
Department of Justice and Jack Conway, Kentucky Attorney General jointly announced the
pleas.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Kentucky Attorney General’s
Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Taylor and Brian Lichter represented the United States
in this case.

The three defendants will appear for sentencing in August. The conspiracy charge
carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. However, the court must consider the
U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the statute governing the imposition of sentences before
issuing a sentence.

The jury convicted Naomi Johnson, 61 and Earl Young, 44, of conspiring to buy votes and one count each of vote buying. The verdict was returned following two and half days of trial and approximately three and half hours of deliberation.

Another co-defendant, Jackie Jennings, 61, pleaded guilty to two vote buying counts and a conspiracy charge during the first day of the trial.

Evidence at trial proved that the three defendants conspired to buy votes for Michael Salyers, a candidate for county Magistrate.

Testimony proved that Salyers was provided hundreds of dollars to pay individuals to cast their votes for him by absentee ballot. Evidence showed that the defendants traveled with voters to the courthouse. Young and Jennings verified that the voters voted. Voters were paid after informing Salyers they voted for him. One witness testified that he was paid $25.

Salyers pleaded guilty to the vote buying conspiracy in February.

Kerry B. Harvey, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Perrye Turner, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, and Jack Smith, Chief of the Public Integrity Division at the Department of Justice jointly made the announcement today.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Taylor and Richard B. Evans with the Public Integrity Division.

Vote buying guilty verdicts

Jennings, Johnson and Young will appear in federal court for their sentences on July 26. Salyers will be sentenced on May 23. Each defendant faces up to five years in prison.

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It is the hope of the hard working citizens of Breathitt County that there will several more convicted for their part in the vote buying. Locally owned print media as well as citizens of Breathitt County are to be thanks for their parts in helping identify vote buying In Breathitt County to the proper authorities.

We will have more on this huge case when more names are released.

Aftermath of deadly crash - Photo by C. Friley

(Hazard, Ky.) On March 15, 2012 Kentucky State Police in Hazard received a call of a 2 vehicle collision on Ky. 15 in the Lost Creek community of Breathitt County. Preliminary investigation indicates that Terri Lynn Moore, age 44 of Avawam Ky., was traveling North when she crossed over the center line and struck a vehicle traveling South operated by 30 year old Seth A. Marshall.

Moore vehicle after deadly crash - Photo by C. Friley

Terri Moore was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Breathitt County Coroner. Seth Marshall was transported to the Kentucky River Medical Center where he was treated and released. Seat belts were in use at the time of the collision. The investigation is continuing by Det. Randy Combs.

WEST LIBERTY TORNADO PHOTOS – CLICK HERE

I went back to the office and listend to weather reports and what direction the twister had taken. In the path of this monster was West Liberty, and Magoffin County. I spent most of the night traveling to Richmond, Campton and back to Frenchburg surveying damage. I decided to wait until daylight to go back out and survey the damage caused by mother nature’s fury.

As morning broke, I traveled to Pomeroyton in Menifee County and Denniston which were both hit extremely hard. I thne went to Salyersville and looked on as emergency works from across the state were busy clearing roads of debris and downed power lines. The damage was truly amazing to see first hand. Finally we traveled to West Liberty. This looked like a war zone. The tornado litterally went right down the center of town. It cut a path of destruction from one end to the other and did not look like one bulding was spared. Early reports say 5 were dead, hundreds njured and several people still accounted for. This is the second tornado to hit in or near West Liberty in just 3 days.

We will post where and how to help these communities very soon.

Superintendent Arch Turner Arrested

LEXINGTON — The Breathitt County Schools Superintendent was arrested today pursuant to a federal indictment charging him with obstruction of justice, conspiracy to buy votes and making false statements to a federal agent.

The three count Indictment, returned yesterday and unsealed today, alleges that 65- year-old Arch Turner of Booneville, Ky., conspired with others to buy votes in the November 2010 general election in Breathitt County.

Additionally, when the FBI interviewed Turner in October 2010, he allegedly made false statements saying he had not given any candidate money for election purposes in the May 2010 primary election and that cash he withdrew from his bank account was for personal use and not for the purpose of buying votes.

Turner is also accused of trying to persuade a person, during an FBI investigation, not to report Turner’s vote buying activity to law enforcement.

Kerry B. Harvey, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Mike Kaste, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jack Conway, Attorney General of Kentucky, Office of the Attorney General, and Trial Attorney Brian Lichter from the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., jointly made the announcement
today.

The investigation preceding the Indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Attorney General. The Indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth R. Taylor.

A date for Turner’s appearance in United States District Court has not yet been set. If convicted, Turner faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of sentences.

The indictment of a person by a grand jury is an accusation only, and that person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Turner – Indictment 2 (PDF FILE)

Truck wreck on narrow road. (Photo Chris Friley EMS)

Truck wreck on narrow road. (Photo Chris Friley EMS)

There was no spillage from the tanker but crews stayed on scene til around 5AM Wednesday. Among those were Primrose FD, Lee Co FD, Area 10 HazMat, Lee Co EMA, and the EPA. Driver was not hurt.