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Title: (I just have to share the good news) Special grand jury returns 21-count indictment against Whitley Sheriff; Hodge Taken Into Custody
Source:
The News Journal
URL Source: http://www.thenewsjournal.net/details.cfm?id=4514
Published: Nov 8, 2010
Author: Trent Knuckles and Mark White
Post Date: 2010-11-08 18:00:51 by Murron
Keywords: None
Views: 60
I just had to share this bit of good news with all of you, it's what many of us in this area have been waiting for....poetic justice!~ Murron Special grand jury returns 21-count indictment against Whitley Sheriff; Hodge taken into custody Tampering with evidence, abuse of public trust alleged; News Journal obtains grand jury report A special grand jury tasked with investigating possible wrongdoing by current Whitley County Sheriff Lawrence Hodge has returned a 21-count indictment today, charging Hodge with 18 counts of abuse of the public trust and three counts of tampering with physical evidence. Since it was empanelled on June 25, the special grand jury has met on eight prior occasions, and has heard from a total of 26 witnesses, including seven current deputies, four ex-deputies, two current sheriff's department office workers, and one former office worker. The release of the indictments Monday in Whitley Circuit Court was also accompanied by a four and a half page report by the special grand jury. The News Journal has provided the full report online (see above). Hodge testified at a civil trial Monday in U.S. District Court in London and was taken into custody by federal authorities following his participation in the trial. Officials say a federal grand jury is also looking into other allegations of wrongdoing by Hodge. Federal and state law enforcement agents served search warrants at Hodge's office at the Whitley County Courthouse and at his personal residence on New Zion Church Road today. Agents were seen carrying boxes of items from the office. Authorities at Hodge's residence declined to comment on their investigation or what they were looking for. Two areas that the special grand jury is apparently looking at include the December break-in of Hodge's office where 78 guns were left unaccounted for along with other evidence, such as drugs. The firearms were either apparently taken during the break-in, or paperwork was missing indicating that the guns had been returned to their owners. The grand jury is also apparently looking at sheriff's office books. During audits of Hodge's books, Kentucky State Auditors have found a total budget deficit of more than $200,000. The audit findings were turned over to the FBI for further investigation. Special ATF Agent Todd Tremaine, who is in charge of the investigation into the break-in, and an auditor with the Kentucky State Auditor's office, who participated in the audit of Hodge's books, recently testified before the grand jury. Many of the charges in the indictment focused on Hodge's use of a Drug and Alcohol account that, presumably, held proceeds from drug arrests and alcohol busts made by the department. Over a seven year period, the grand jury alleges Hodge wrote checkes to himself totalling nearly $100,000 out of the account for "drug buy money," but could provide no documentation for where the money went beyond that. He was also indicted for shortfalls in other fee accounts involving taxes. Also, two of the indictments focus on "missing" guns that Hodge allegedly gave or sold to others. One indictment claims Hodge sold three guns to Williamsburg attorney Paul Croley. Another asserts he gave two firearms to his Chief Deputy, Tim Shelly. All five guns have been recovered. Another count of the indictment alleges Hodge failed to log illegal drugs and firearms seized from a Nov. 15, 2009 auto accident worked by a deputy of his department. During the May 18 Primary Election, retired Kentucky State Police Detective Colan Harrell soundly defeated Hodge by a vote of 4,765 to 1,891 in a five-way race. Harrell was unopposed in the November General Election, and is scheduled to assume office on Jan. 1.
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