A new special prosecutor has been appointed by the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office to direct the misconduct investigation involving Trigg County Sheriff Aaron Acree.
Muhlenberg County Commonwealth’s Attorney Clayton Adams was appointed last week by the AG’s office after Todd County Attorney Jeff Traughber asked to be removed from the case. In a September 14 letter to the AG’s office, Traughber said it was “apparent that the investigation may result in multiple charges including at least one felony” against Acree. He then asked for the AG’s office to relieve him of the appointment, adding a new appointment that “possesses the necessary staff and resources to dedicate to the prosecution” was needed.
County attorneys mostly handle misdemeanor cases, while felonies are almost always bumped up to the circuit court level and prosecuted by commonwealth’s attorneys.
Traughber was appointed special prosecutor on April 27. This came after Trigg County Commonwealth’s Attorney Carrie Ovey Wiggins sent a letter to the office of special prosecutions in the attorney general’s office on April 18 requesting a special prosecutor be assigned to an investigation involving Acree.
In the letter, Ovey-Wiggins said a Kentucky State Police investigation revealed Acree may have committed the offense of official misconduct. She went on to say that both she and County Attorney Randall Braboy believed they had a conflict of interest in the case.
Acree began his career in law enforcement with the Cadiz Police Department and moved to the Kentucky State Police. He was appointed sheriff by Judge-executive Hollis Alexander in August 2020 following the resignation of former Sheriff Jason Barnes.
Acree has filed to run for a first full term as sheriff in the November 8 general election. He will face opposition from several write-in candidates including two of Acree’s former deputies.
It’s not immediately known if Adams will present the findings of the investigation to a Trigg County grand jury ahead of the November 8 general election.
