Special grand jury investigating Sheriff hears from six witnesses Friday

A special Whitley County Grand Jury investigating possible criminal wrongdoing by Sheriff Lawrence Hodge and his department, met for a third time Friday hearing from a total of six witnesses, five of whom either work or have worked for the department.

The grand jury heard from its first witness Friday about 9:30 a.m., which was Williamsburg Police Detective Bobby Freeman, who is a former sheriff’s deputy. Freeman, who has worked Williamsburg police since June 2006, testified for about 15 minutes.

Grand jurors then heard from Deputy Brian Lawson, who is currently a school resource officer, and Kendra McKiddy, the current head bookkeeper at the office. McKiddy was an office worker, but not the head bookkeeper during much of the time period covered by several critical state audits.

Both Lawson and McKiddy testified for about 55 minutes before the grand jury.

After lunch, grand jurors heard from one former office worker, one current office worker, and Jerry Bunch, the owner of Jerry’s Towing.

All three witnesses testified for roughly 25 minutes each. Grand jurors wrapped up proceedings for the day about 3:53 p.m.

"It was our third session of this special grand jury. Of course, I can’t go into anything that was testified too before the grand jury," said Commonwealth’s Attorney Allen Trimble. "They are not complete with their work yet. They still have a lot of work to do."

The grand jury isn’t slated to meet again until Friday, Sept. 17.

The special grand jury is empanelled until Sept. 25, but Trimble said that he anticipates asking for an extension, which could be up to another 90 days.

Trimble said that he anticipates the grand jury wrapping up its investigation by early to mid October.

The grand jury has met only three times since it was empanelled on June 25.

When the grand jury met last on July 30, grand jurors heard from four current deputies, three former deputies, and one additional unidentified witness.

The grand jury is expected to hear from dozens more witnesses. It’s likely that most current sheriff’s department employees will be subpoenaed at some point in addition to some other former employees, who worked there during the period of time being looked at, Trimble said.

"It is or was their office. They were a part of it, and it is important that they be able to express what they know, and any concerns that they have, and what, if any knowledge they would have about some of the allegations in this matter," Trimble said.

Trimble said that he anticipates about four more sessions of the special grand jury, but he noted some sessions might last longer than a single day, which has been the case until now.

Trimble said previously that he couldn’t comment on whether the grand jury will look at allegations related to Hodge’s audits or the December break-in at his office.

"I can’t get into details of what we are looking at. I can say that various state and federal agencies are looking into it," Trimble said.

State Auditor Crit Luallen referred findings in audits of Hodge’s books to the FBI for further investigation.

The findings revealed several problems in the office that included alleged budget deficit’s totaling more than $200,000.
In December, Hodge’s courthouse office was broken into revealing that nearly 80 guns were either unaccounted for and stolen or that they had been returned to their owners but that proper paperwork hadn’t been filled out and kept on file. In addition other evidence was reportedly missing, such as drugs.

The Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the break-in at Hodge’s office.

"Any time matters are raised or come to the attention that brings into question the activities of a public agency, I think it is important for every citizen and every taxpayer that the officials take a look at it, and investigate it to see if those rumors or whatever matter is raised has any basis to it," Trimble noted Friday.

"Public confidence in our institutions is critical. Our government will not function without public confidence in our institutions. The only way we can have confidence is if we have citizens that look at it critically, and determine if there has been wrongdoing."

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 is unopposed in the November General Election, and is scheduled to assume office on Jan. 1.