Evidence related to Kentucky bourbon thefts unsealed

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — More than 250 pages of documents have been released to the public relating to what prosecutors say was a bourbon theft ring that operated in central Kentucky for years.

Local media outlets report that the records were unsealed Friday after a Franklin Circuit Court judge ruled that defense attorneys involved in the case did not have a compelling enough reason to prevent public access.

The ruling came more than a month after The Courier-Journal asked the court to make the records public, arguing the media outlet had constitutional and common law rights to access the evidence.

The newly released documents provide in-depth detail on investigations into Gilbert "Toby" Curtsinger, the man prosecutors say led a nine-member organized crime ring that obtained and sold bourbons, as well as trafficked steroids since 2008.

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