Office of the Attorney General
Attorney General Conway Announces Conviction And Resignation Of Elliott County Clerk

Attorney General Jack Conway and his Office of Special Prosecutions today announced the successful end to the criminal investigation and prosecution of Elliott County Clerk Reeda Ison. Auditors with the Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts and investigators from the Office of the Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations helped prosecutors piece together a picture of financial malfeasance and official misconduct that spanned six years. The case came to a close today with Ison’s guilty plea to 40 separate counts of official misconduct first degree; and misapplication of entrusted property.

Ison tendered her resignation as Elliott County Clerk on Friday, May 1, pursuant to prosecutor’s demands. She entered the guilty plea today before Special Judge John David Preston sitting in Elliott Circuit Court. Ison was sentenced to 12 months in jail on each count, conditionally discharged, with several conditions, including that she resign, be barred from holding further public office and pay restitution of more than $27,000.

The charges stem from, among other things, Ison’s continued willful shorting of local taxing districts and employee withholdings in favor of her own salary and expenses, which regularly exceeded the maximum allowable by law, despite actions by the Kentucky Auditor and local county government to publicize and stop the abuse.

“Citizens in every Kentucky county have a right to clean, local government. I fully support the efforts of honest local officials to help us root-out wrongdoers and hold them accountable,” said General Conway.

State Auditor Crit Luallen’s office has referred several audits of the Elliott Clerk to the AG’s office. The most recent audit was the 2007 financial statement of the Elliott County Clerk that was referred April 30 because of a deficit of more than $5,800.

“It’s a sad day in Kentucky when an elected official betrays the public’s trust,” Luallen said. “We appreciate the Attorney General’s Office bringing this matter to a resolution.”

 The Elliott County Judge-Executive and members of Elliott Fiscal Court attended today’s court proceedings to sign the plea agreement and show their support.