Prosecutor who impregnated defendant and had affair with juror, now wants to be judge

[Gil Bang 26244]

An elected state’s attorney in Kentucky who admitted to getting a criminal defendant pregnant is now running to become a circuit judge.

 

Matthew Leveridge, commonwealth’s attorney of Russell and Wayne counties, was never disciplined for having sex with with Latisha Sartain in 2014. After Sartain told Leveridge’s wife about the affair, Leveridge moved to rescind Sartain’s pretrial diversion agreement.

Eight years on, he wants to be elected to higher office.

Ken Upchurch, a Republican for the 52nd District in Kentucky’s House of Representatives, told the Louisville Courier Journal he was shocked to hear Leveridge was running to be a judge. “It’s like the church head deacon having an affair with the choir director, then wanting to be the preacher,” Upchurch said.

Although concerns were raised that Leveridge’s actions may have constituted a breach of the Rules of Professional Conduct for lawyers, he has never been sanctioned by the Kentucky Supreme Court or charged with a criminal offense. Leveridge was the subject of a criminal investigation for allegedly having sex with jurors, however, court documents show.

“A few years ago I made a mistake in my life,” Leveridge told the Courier Journal. “I acknowledged the mistake, sought forgiveness, took responsibility and accepted the consequences. I learned from the mistake and have since moved on to a better life, both personally and professionally.”

Latisha Sartain (now Lashley) was prosecuted by Leveridge’s office in 2011 for trafficking in a controlled substance. She was placed on a pretrial diversion for five years and, in 2014, the affair began. It ended a couple of months later when Sartain became pregnant and she told his wife. Leveridge then moved to void her pretrial diversion, though it was later reinstated by a special prosecutor who took over for Leveridge in the case.

“If you’re a prosecutor, you’re not even supposed to talk to a defendant without her attorney being present, much less—well, this,” attorney Larry Rogers, who represented Sartain, told the Lexington Herald-Leader at the time. “Universally, I think everyone would agree this is a big, big, big no-no.”

An attorney general’s public corruption/special investigations unit looked into whether Leveridge had committed official misconduct, but no indictment was filed as a result. Leveridge told investigators he met Sartain through a probation officer with whom he was also having sex.

He also admitted to having an affair with a juror in 2013 after she was dismissed as an alternate on a murder trial. He claimed to have believed her jury duty was over, though she said she was called to serve on another panel before being dismissed when the case was settled.

The juror told the investigation that Leveridge “was just using her for sex,” and that she didn’t understand why “someone with a wife, a child and such an important job would take such risks.” She added that he “frequently made the statement during her time with him that ‘I don’t have no boss,’” the Courier Journal reports.

[South Austin 53228]

Who else lost the bet that this happened in Florida?

[Pescado_Rojo 19588]

Sorry for Partying! 

[Chad Fuck 18153]

Gonna need to see pics to make ultimate decision.  Obvz. 

[formermav43 4630]

[jimmyjazz 47221]

Just now, Chad Fuck said:

Gonna need to see pics to make ultimate decision.  Obvz. 

[Js1 87190]

14 minutes ago, Gil Bang said:

Ken Upchurch, a Republican for the 52nd District in Kentucky’s House of Representatives, told the Louisville Courier Journal he was shocked to hear Leveridge was running to be a judge. “It’s like the church head deacon having an affair with the choir director, then wanting to be the preacher,” Upchurch said.

Well I have news for this guy 

[Chad Fuck 18153]

2 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

Pickin's must be slim near the old Kentucky home.  

[BehoId, The Underminer! 11669]

17 minutes ago, Gil Bang said:

“It’s like the church head deacon having an affair with the choir director, then wanting to be the preacher,” Upchurch said.

aren't analogies supposed to illuminate something?  can i vote against this guy just for this?

wow!  he ate a banana yesterday!  that'd be like if he ate an apple two days ago!

[jimmyjazz 47221]

I think that photo was a few years later after she was arrested for stabbing her boyfriend.  Perhaps Leveridge dodged a bullet knife.

[jw4381 3249]

Anybody have this on your bingo card?

Timeline’s fucked up, yo. 

[RDCanecutter 26898]

35 minutes ago, South Austin said:

Who else lost the bet that this happened in Florida?

Not me. I was certain Roy Moore was up for a second act.

[Ghost of LL 15698]

@Kyrie Eleison--this is you, right?

[Blotto 24024]

I almost fell out of my chair when I read he was a republican. I may have to rethink my position on the GOP being the party of family values.

I hope he at least asked his lord and savior for forgiveness. And by lord and savior, I of course mean fat Donnie Trump. 

[Kyrie Eleison 9312]

14 minutes ago, Ghost of LL said:

@Kyrie Eleison--this is you, right?

[Incredulity 11876]

1 hour ago, Gil Bang said:

n elected state’s attorney in Kentucky who admitted to getting a criminal defendant pregnant is now running to become a circuit judge.

[Bama Chick 28596]

Not me. I was certain Roy Moore was up for a second act.

Is he running for juvenile court judge?

[Longhornfan1024 1707]

He's a Republican?  He'll win in a landslide.  

[tx 3 putt 78706]

Is lashley a biblical name ?

[High Plains Drifter 11191]

4 hours ago, jimmyjazz said:

 

[elfenix 34753]

[Brisketexan 106921]

4 hours ago, jimmyjazz said:

Here's the really frightening news: that there is a Kentucky 9.

[Sawbonz 28229]

8 hours ago, Gil Bang said:

. “It’s like the church head deacon having an affair with the choir director, then wanting to be the preacher,” Upchurch said.

So much more common than I would have thought 

[Tuco 5094]

Of course a guy named “Leveridge” is going to use his position of authority to get sex. That’s just lazy foreshadowing.

[Underdog 29196]

20 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

Here's the really frightening news: that there is a Kentucky 9.

Maybe in the Appalachia and Louisville.