Scott Co. Coroner’s attorney: client “looks forward to his day in court”

SCOTT COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ)- Big news out of Scott County Thursday. A corruption case against coroner John Goble and two KSP officers has new legitimacy.

A grand jury formally charged them with several felonies including abuse of public trust, possessing drugs, and official misconduct.

Goble’s attorney, Fred Peters, says the charges are politically motivated and his client looks forward to his day in court.

State police say in December they found evidence that someone was stealing KSP ammunition.They first asked the FBI to investigate, but the bureau turned that request down so KSP launched an internal investigation. That resulted in the charges Thursday.

From 2013 to 2017 Goble is accused of taking large quantities of ammunition from Master Trooper Robert “Mitch” Harris when he had reason to believe Harris had stolen the ammo.

State police say that ammo was delivered to Goble’s home from a supply branch in Frankfort.

Similarly, the grand jury charges Goble took three rifles and ten shotguns from Harris when, again, he had reason to believe those guns were KSP property.

Goble is also accused of paying a man for working as a deputy coroner when he wasn’t, for having oxycodone illegally, for transporting moonshine in a county car, and for using a county car to transport donor eyes from the Kentucky eye bank to West Virginia for personal profit.

Goble’s attorney, Fred Peters, says his client’s ex-wife and a disgruntled employee are behind the charges; he says Goble denies each one.

“We look forward to our day in court because these are absolutely baseless allegations and I feel very confident he will be vindicated,” Peters said.

The KSP officers just face charges related to the theft of the ammo and the guns. Troopers determined more than $40,000 in ammo was stolen and delivered to Goble’s house.

In addition to stealing the ammo, Harris is charged with forging names to cover up the fact he was selling KSP guns to Crawford and Goble.

Crawford, like Goble, is accused of taking the guns and ammo when he had reason to believe they were stolen.

State police say Harris was immediately put on unpaid leave when the investigation started.

Crawford is a retired Lieutenant Colonel who served in leadership roles when the alleged thefts were happening.

Harris has not responded to ABC 36’s requests for comment. The man who opened the door at Crawford’s home quickly shut it and said no one would be talking to ABC 36’s Veronica Jean Seltzer Thursday.

The Scott County Judge Executive says Goble is still coroner, that he is innocent until proven guilty. He also says the county attorney is researching the issue further.

All three of the accused are expected to appear in court for the first time in July.