Office of the Attorney General
Former Breathitt County Sheriff Admits Role in Vote Buying Conspiracy

Attorney General Jack Conway, United States Attorney of the Eastern District, Kerry B. Harvey, and FBI Special Agent in Charge, Perrye Turner jointly announce the guilty plea of former Breathitt County Sheriff John L. Turner to conspiracy to buy votes. Turner, of Booneville, Ky. entered the guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell on June 13, 2012.

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 Breahitt County, where he gave money to an individual to buy votes at a particular precinct.

John Turner is 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 was indicted in March of this year on charges of obstruction of justice, conspiracy to buy votes and making false statements to a federal agent following an investigation by the Attorney General's Office and the FBI. Arch Turner is set for trial on July 30.

The U.S. Attorney's office is handling the prosecution of this case and was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth R. Taylor.

John 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.