Commonwealth’s Attorney Allen Trimble announced that a Special Grand Jury has been empanelled by Chief Circuit Judge Paul Braden to investigate allegations of criminal wrong doing by Whitley County Sheriff Lawrence Hodge and his Office.
According to news release from Trimble’s Office, Judge Braden’s action was in response to a petition filed by Trimble a few days after the primary election. Trimble said it was filed then, so as not to impact the election. Trimble also noted that certain aspects of investigations relating to the sheriff by various agencies had not been completed.
A Special Grand Jury serves for a 90-day period and may be extended for an additional 90 days.
Previously, state auditors uncovered a total deficit of more than $200,000 in the Whitley County Sheriff’s Office while conducting annual audits. The audits were referred to the F.B.I..
The A.T.F.E. took over a Kentucky State Police investigation into a break-in at Hodge’s Office, reported December 21, when investigators discovered that 78 guns were missing or unaccounted for.
Trimble had said that various state and federal agencies are involved in the investigation.
Sheriff Hodge was soundly defeated in the primary election by retired Kentucky State Police Detective Colan Harrel.