Former State Official Assessed Ethics Fine

A former state representative and member of Gov. Steve Beshear’s cabinet has agreed to pay a $5,000 fine for pressuring state employees to donate to the governor’s re-election campaign.

Charles Geveden Sr. acknowledged he used his influence as deputy secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to access private telephone numbers for state workers, according to a settlement agreement. Geveden acknowledged he called those workers and told them a specific dollar amount they had to donate to Beshear’s 2011 campaign.

The Executive Branch Ethics Commission filed civil charges against Geveden in January 2013. The case was scheduled for a public hearing before Geveden’s attorney began negotiating a settlement, according to John Steffen, the commission’s executive director.

Last year, Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway declined to prosecute Geveden on criminal charges.

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