A Christian County Grand Jury has indicted Hopkinsville Police Department Lt. Jefferson Alexander on a perjury charge for testimony given in the case of former Hopkinsville City Councilmember Ann Cherry.
The indictment for first-degree perjury stems from an FBI investigation and alleges that on August 17th, 2012, Lt. Alexander gave false testimony on three occasions when he was the only sworn witness before a grand jury that indicted Cherry on charges of tampering with a witness, tampering with public records, and second-degree official misconduct.
The Hopkinsville Police Department, then under the leadership of former chief Guy Howie, alleged Cherry hindered their investigation into the ‘Southside Prowler’ case by using her official capacity as a member of council.
The recent indictment alleges Alexander did not tell the truth when he testified to a grand jury that Cherry coerced a witness to change her statement, when he said Cherry used her position ‘to engage in conduct which constitutes an unauthorized exercise of official functions; and tampered with a public record by releasing a private citizen’s surveillance video to others.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling called Alexander’s testimony false—especially the allegation Cherry tampered with a witness.
Hopkinsville Police Chief Clayton Sumner says Lt. Alexander has been placed on administrative duties, pending the outcome of the criminal case.
Boling says FBI Special Agent Sean Miller began his investigation in 2016 and had desired to present his findings to a grand jury since 2017.
The final report of the January-February Christian County Grand Jury signed by the foreperson outlines allegations and process.
Boling claims Pryor provided false information to the 2012 grand jury, but the statute of limitations has expired on a potential official misconduct charge against her.
The Grand Jury report asserts that in 2017, Pryor reportedly told Special Agent Miller that she would not go forward with a perjury case against Lt. Alexander because the statute of limitations had expired on that charge—which would have been false.
Pryor requested to testify before the recent grand jury and Boling says they decided to hear her side of the events.
Lt. Alexander did not request to be heard by the grand jury, according to the report.
Pryor has not been indicted or charged with any crime. She says she cannot comment on the matter at this time, but may in the future.
Cherry accepted a deal in 2013 that required her to step down from her council position and to never run for election to council or for mayor of Hopkinsville in the future. The charges were dropped under the agreement and Cherry said she accepted the settlement to avoid the stress on her family that a trial would have presented.