Conley seeks new plea hearing in corruption case

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – The former top official of a Kentucky county ravaged by a 2012 tornado is asking for a new plea hearing in his federal corruption case in hopes of having his sentence reduced.

The Lexington Herald-Leader (http://bit.ly/1NIRygU ) reports that an attorney for former Morgan County Judge-Executive Tim Conley has filed a motion asking that Conley’s guilty plea be set aside and a new hearing be scheduled for Conley to re-enter a guilty plea.

Conley pleaded guilty last year to mail fraud in a scheme in which he shook down a contractor for $130,000 in kickbacks.

U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove sentenced Conley to seven years and three months in prison.

If the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals rules for Conley, he could argue for a lower sentence during new proceedings.

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Information from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.