UPDATED: County Road Supervisor arrested for selling marijuana, witness intimidation

A suspended Whitley County Road Department Supervisor, who was arrested Jan. 22 for allegedly selling drugs, is free on bond and scheduled to be arraigned on Feb. 8 in Whitley District Court.

Kentucky State Police Trooper Scott Bunch arrested Jerry Lee Davis, 43, about 4 p.m. on Jan. 22 at his 1096 Old Corbin Pike home.

Bunch charged Davis with two felonies, intimidating a participant in a legal process and trafficking in marijuana over eight ounces but less than five pounds, and one misdemeanor offense, trafficking in marijuana less than eight ounces.

Davis was released from the Whitley County Detention Center on Jan. 23 on a $9,999.99 cash bond that was posted by Matthew Davis of Deep Branch Road, according to court documents.

Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White Jr. said he was notified about the arrest about 30 minutes after it took place.

"It would be inappropriate at this time to comment on this incident. Mr. Davis has been placed on administrative suspension, without pay, pending the outcome of the incident," White said in a press release.

On Dec. 2, Davis allegedly sold less than eight ounces of marijuana to an undercover Kentucky State Police detective, and on Dec. 8, he allegedly sold over eight ounces of marijuana to a state police detective, according to an arrest warrant.

Kentucky State Police Detective David Lassiter, the investigating officer in the case, said that on Dec. 2, Davis sold one-quarter pound of marijuana to the undercover officer, and on Dec. 8, he sold half a pound of marijuana.

Both drugs buys were made at the county garage, which is located at Goldbug near Exit 15.

Lassiter said that police are still investigating and it’s too early in the investigation to determine whether other road department employees might have been involved or if additional arrests will be made.

On Jan. 19, police approached Davis and informed him that he would be facing charges, according to a warrant.

"During the conversation with police, Davis indicated that he knew the identity of the confidential informant. Davis was instructed by police not to have direct or indirect contact with the confidential informant," according to the warrant.

Lassiter said that it wouldn’t have been difficult for Davis to figure, who the confidential informant was based upon information in the arrest warrant.

On Jan. 21, Davis allegedly sent a family member to the confidential informant’s residence, and the informant told police that in the past this Davis family member had produced a weapon and threatened to shoot him, according to the warrant.
The warrant doesn’t indicate who the family member was.

Lassiter said that it is too early to in the investigation to say whether the Davis family member, who allegedly contacted the confidential informant, will face charges.

Intimidating a witness in a legal process and trafficking in marijuana over eight ounces but less than five pounds are both class ‘D’ felonies punishable by up to five years in prison.

Trafficking in marijuana less than eight ounces is a class ‘A’ misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months in jail and/or a $500 fine.

Davis has worked for Whitley County for 25 years.

In 2007, Davis became the first person from Whitley County to finish the Roads Scholar/Road Master Training Programs, which consisted of nine and seven full-day courses, respectively. The combined programs totaled 96 training hours.