Knox Constable to plead guilty to DUI charge; does not plan to resign

Carl Bolton, Fifth District Knox County Constable

Carl Bolton said he will plead guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol stemming from a traffic stop and arrest last Friday morning but will continue to serve as a Knox County Constable.

"It is pretty simple, actually," Bolton said of the traffic stop on the Corbin by-pass just after midnight and his subsequent arrest. "I made a bad error in judgement."

According to the arrest citation, Bolton, 50, had a blood alcohol level of .148, almost twice the legal limit in Kentucky, which is .08.

Kentucky State Police Division of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer Mike Hamblin stopped Bolton just after midnight as he was traveling east on the bypass.

Hamblin stated that he stopped Bolton after observing his vehicle cross the center line three different times.

Bolton reportedly told Hamblin that had consumed seven to nine beers, finishing the last one about 15 minutes prior to the traffic stop.

"I thought I was okay to drive, but evidently I drank too much," Bolton said Tuesday.

Hamblin added that Bolton had a strong odor of alcohol and glassy and bloodshot eyes.

A portable breathalyzer test indicated the presence of alcohol. Bolton was able to successfully complete several field sobriety tests. He was taken to the Corbin Police station where the breath test was administered and then lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center on one count of driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs.

"I want to apologize to the people in the county and the people that I serve," Bolton said. "I want to work through this the best that I can."

Bolton said he has been a constable in district five, which includes the Gray and Woodbine communities for six years. Prior to that, he served for more than 20 years as a Knox County Sheriff’s Deputy, including two years as chief deputy.. His current term expires in three years.