Former Breathitt County Sheriff Pleads Guilty to Vote Buying Conspiracy

LEXINGTON, KY—A former Breathitt County sheriff admitted in federal court today he provided money to an individual to buy votes in the May 2010 primary election in Breathitt County.

John L. Turner, of Booneville, Kentucky, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Karen Caldwell to conspiracy to buy votes.

According to the plea agreement, former Breathitt County Schools Superintendent Arch Turner provided money to John Turner for the purpose of buying votes. John Turner met others at the Highland Turner elementary school in Breathitt County. At the school, John Turner gave money to an individual to buy votes at a particular precinct.

John Turner becomes the ninth individual who has either been convicted by jury or pleaded guilty to a vote buying conspiracy in the May 2010 primary election in Breathitt County.

Arch Turner is set for trial on July 30.

Kerry B. Harvey, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Perrye Turner, and Special Agent in Charge, FBI; and Jack Conway, Kentucky Attorney General, jointly announced the plea today.

The investigation was conducted by the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office and the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth R. Taylor.

Turner is scheduled to be sentenced on September 26, 2011. He faces a maximum of five years in prison. However, the court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal statutes before imposing a sentence.