Current, former deputies testify Friday before special grand jury

A special grand jury, which is investigating alleged criminal wrongdoing by Whitley County Sheriff Lawrence Hodge and possibly his department, heard nearly five hours worth of testimony Friday, most of which came from sheriff’s deputies.

The grand jury meets in secret behind closed doors. The proceedings aren’t open to the public.

Little is known about their proceedings Friday other than eight out of nine witnesses were current or former deputies.

The special grand jury, which met for only the second time since it was empanelled on June 25, began its proceedings shortly after 9 a.m., and wrapped up proceedings about 2:53 p.m.

Five of the witnesses are current sheriff’s deputies. Two were former deputies now working at the Williamsburg Police Department. A third is a former deputy now working as a 911 dispatcher.

The identity of the final witness of the day was not known. He only testified for about 12 minutes.

The grand jury adjourned for the day before hearing from a sixth current deputy in the department, who was apparently subpoenaed to appear Friday.

The special grand jury will meet again on Aug. 13.

Chief Circuit Judge Paul Braden empanelled the special grand jury on June 25 pursuant to a petition Commonwealth’s Attorney Allen Trimble filed on May 20. Braden approved the petition on May 28.

The grand jury is empanelled for up to 90 days, and isn’t expected to issue a report concerning the investigation, which is described as being active, for several more weeks.

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.
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.