Kentucky: Jackson County Sheriff arrests Judge Executive, other official

AK Note: Not sure the video is working, or it could be just not working for Morocco...any case the full video is at the URL below if it doesn't work for you. -Bill

http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Jackson-County-Sheriff-arrests-Judge-Executive-other-official-240190911.html

Jackson County Sheriff arrests Judge Executive, other official


By: Morgan Lentes - Email
Posted: Tue 6:47 PM, Jan 14, 2014
WYMT

 Jackson County Judge Executive arrested

MCKEE, Ky (WYMT) - Bad blood between county officials in Jackson County boiled over Tuesday. That is when Sheriff Denny Peyman arrested Judge Executive William O. Smith and Treasurer Beth Sallee on a slew of charges.

A sign hanging outside the Jackson County Sheriff's Office read "closed for the fiscal court meeting" as Peyman led the judge executive out of that meeting in handcuffs.

"All I want from all of this is the truth, that is it," said Peyman.

Smith as well as Sallee face six charges each, including abuse of public trust, falsifying business records and engaging in organized crime, among others.









"There is going to be more charges. It is going to be interesting to see how this all pans out. There is nothing political about doing what is right," said Peyman.

The sheriff arrested the judge executive and brought him out the doors of the Jackson County Justice Center. He then took Smith to his cruiser, which is an old beat-up black Mustang. Peyman said he used that to send a message.

"This Mustang is what I was given to drive. That is what I arrest people in. That is what I haul people to jail in. That is what I work in everyday and you can see the condition of it. It is not hardly safe for anyone, but that is what I am given to drive by the Fiscal Court," said Peyman.

The sheriff and judge executive have bumped heads before, each filing lawsuits against the other. Several people gathered to watch the morning's events. Several in the crowd made it known they agree with Peyman's actions.

Both Smith and Sallee were taken to the Jackson County Detention Center, where they declined to comment on their arrest.

WYMT spoke with some folks, who did not want to go on camera, but they said the judge executive is a stand-up guy.