Kentucky Supreme Court suspends prosecutor who traded favors for nude images
The Kentucky Supreme Court has temporarily suspended prosecutor Ronnie Goldy from practicing law, finding he is a danger to the public and clients.
But the court said in an order Friday that it cannot remove Goldy as commonwealth's attorney because elected officials can only be removed by impeachment, which is the province of the General Assembly.
The Kentucky Constitution says elected officers may be impeached for misdemeanors, though the Legislative Research Commission has said that includes violations of the public trust, including malfeasance in office.
Any person may petition for the impeachment of any public official by making a written petition to the Kentucky House of Representatives.
Neither Goldy nor his attorney, Tim Denison, immediately responded to a question about whether Goldy intends to continue to serve in office.
The Courier Journal disclosed in July that he had exchanged 230 pages of Facebook messages with a defendant, for whom he promised to do favors in court in exchange for nude images of her.
Goldy, the commonwealth’s attorney for Bath, Menifee, Montgomery and Rowan counties, testified at a hearing Sept. 8 that he didn’t remember any of the messages but he didn’t deny exchanging them with Misty Helton of Salt Lick.
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She testified they were valid and told a hearing officer for a bar inquiry commission that she and Goldy had sexual relations.
She also confirmed that she provided photos and images of herself to Goldy in exchange for him withdrawing warrants and getting cases continued.
A petition to temporarily ban him from practice filed July 14 said he “abused the trust of the public and brought the legal system into disrepute.”
The Supreme Court announced Friday that it had accepted and adopted the recommendation of a hearing officer, retired Judge Jean Chenault Logue.
Goldy also faces possible permanent disbarment.
Andrew Wolfson: 502-582-7189; awolfson@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @adwolfson.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky prosecutor Ronnie Goldy suspended after seeking nude images
