Corbin Funeral Home President charged with second DUI

Leslie Gambrel-Jackson

A Corbin woman, who received a conditionally discharged jail sentence after entering and Alford Plea to driving a hearse transporting a corpse while under the influence of alcohol, was arrested for DUI again in Laurel County early Friday morning.

Thirty-six-year-old Leslie Gambrel-Jackson was arrested on charges of DUI – second offense, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and controlled substance prescription not in proper container, following a traffic stop on Grace Loop off of Ky. 552 in Lily.

According to Kentucky State Police Sergeant Steve Walker, Gambrel-Jackson was seen stopping her 2004 Nissan Altima in the roadway and sitting for approximately five minutes until a resident yelled at the vehicle.

“The vehicle then proceeded slowly around Grace Loop and was observed stopped again in the road by (Laurel County Sheriff’s) Deputy Doug Jones,” Walker stated in the arrest citation, noting the vehicle then moved and stopped in the lot of a nearby church.

Walker said in speaking with Gambrel-Jackson, he noticed she had signs of intoxication including glassy eyes and constricted pupils, but initially denied using drugs.

She recanted, saying she had taken a Percoset several hours earlier. Walker noted that Gambrel-Jackson said she had not been prescribed Percocet.

“Due to the use of this medication which she was not prescribed, not sobriety test was necessary or given,” Walker stated.

Walker asked and Gambrel-Jackson gave permission for law enforcement to search her vehicle.

Walker stated that Jones found a hollow ink pen, two Oxycodone pills and one Gabapentin pill in a small case in Gambrel-Jackson’s purse.

“The subject was also not prescribed Gabapentin,” Walker stated.

According to drugs.com, Gabapentin is an anti-epileptic medication that is also used in adults to treat nerve pain.

Jackson-Gambrel was arrested and lodged in the Laurel County Detention Center.

At her arrignment Friday in Laurel District Court, Judge John Chappell set Gambrel-Jackson’s bond at $1,500 fully secured with the added condition that she not drive.

Because the charges include a felony, a not guilty plea was entered. Gambrel-Jackson is scheduled to return to court at 11 a.m. Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.

Gambrel-Jackson entered the Alford Plea in connection with the hearse incident on March 24 in Whitley District Court.

An Alford Plea means a defendant is not admitting guilt but recognizes that should the case go to trial there may be sufficient evidence to return a conviction.

According to court documents, Gambrel entered the Alford Plea on the charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs and reckless driving.

The remaining charge of driving too slow for traffic conditions was dismissed.

In return for the plea, Gambrel received 30 days in jail and her license was suspended for 90 days, conditionally discharged for two years, provided she have no further legal issues in that time.

Gambrel was fined $100 for the reckless driving charge and $200 on the DUI, along with $538 in court costs.

Officials at the Whitley District Court Clerk’s Office said the decision to reinstate the charges against Gambrel-Jackson is made by Whitley County Attorney Bob Hammons.

Hammons said he must wait until the Laurel County case is adjudicated. He will then review the case and decided what, if any action to take.

If Hammons elected to proceed with the case, Gambrel-Jackson will receive a date to appear in Whitley District Court.

Gambrel was taken into custody at 2:23 a.m. Dec. 23 following a traffic stop on northbound I-75 between Exits 25 and 29.

Corbin Police Officer Mike Bisschop reported following the hearse for several miles as it weaved from the median to the shoulder and back several times while travelling between 30-35 mph.

Biscchop stated that the driver, later identified as Gambrel, failed several field sobriety tests. She was taken to Baptist Health Corbin, but refused any chemical tests to determine if she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol while driving.

However, Bisschop stated Gambrel admitted to taking the prescription drugs Klonopin and Percocet, prior to driving.

Corbin Police Major Rob Jones, the department’s public affairs officer, said previously that there was a body in the back of the hearse at the time, which Gambrel was taking to the funeral home on Cumberland Gap Pkwy.

Officials with the funeral home denied Gambrel was employed at the funeral home, saying she had given her resignation approximately two weeks prior to the incident.

The hearse Gambrel was driving that morning was seen parked on Corbin Funeral Home property later that afternoon.

At the time of the incident, Gambrel was listed on the funeral home’s website as Chief Financial Officer, President, Funeral Director and Embalmer. By that afternoon, her name, photograph and qualifications had been removed from the website.

Friday morning, the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website lists “Leslie Gambrel” as President and a director at the funeral home.

The funeral home made its last annual report to the Secretary of State on June 30.