Former Perry County, Kentucky officials plead not guilty to buying votes
From Sunshine Review
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July 9, 2009 Two former Perry County officials pleaded not guilty on Wednesday on charges of vote-fraud.[1]
[edit] Indictment
Democrats Circuit Clerk Chester Jones and former Judge-Executive Sherman Neace pleaded not guilty Wednesday.
Last November, Neace, 68, ran for magistrate and Jones, 65, ran for a seat on the county school board. The former officials allegedly directed $7,500, which the state Democratic Party gave Perry County Democrats to improve voter turnout last November, to buy votes for themselves.
The indictment charged Jones with signing 75 $100 checks and leaving the payee information blank. Allegedly, the two then split them and handed out some to buy votes and gave some to others to buy votes for them.
Former circuit clerk and state representative Jones chairs the Perry County Democratic Executive Committee. Former Perry County judge-executive Neace served three terms before losing re-election in 1998.
[edit] Fears of witness intimidation
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Taylor said one witness served as secretary of the county Democratic Party Executive Committee and has expressed fear of Jones. Taylor said others have concerns about contact with Jones, but no one had expressed concerns about contact with Neace.
Taylor asked U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert E. Wier to bar both men from doing anything to intimidate or influence witnesses while the two are free pending trial, the Lexington Herald-Leader. He said that Jones came to the courthouse, without direction to be there, when the grand jury was set to meet and talked to witnesses.
Wier told Jones and Neace to discuss the case with their attorneys or defense investigators present only, though they could help set up interviews with witnesses.
Jones' attorney, Brenda Popplewell, and Neace's attorney, Willis Coffey, said the two wouldn't do anything to intimidate witnesses, but Popplewell disputed the allegation.
Jones is barred specifically from contact with witnesses Lisa Weist (the former party secretary), Janet Smith and Nancy Collins.
[edit] Potential consequences
If convicted, Jones and Neace face up to 20 years in prison.
The indictment includes others involved in the vote-fraud scheme, but Taylor declined comment on whether the government will charge more people in the case.
The trial is scheduled September 14, but their attorneys complain of scheduling conflicts.
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