A special prosecutor has withdrawn the commonwealth’s motion to dismiss the perjury charge against retired Hopkinsville Police Lt. Jefferson Alexander.
A grand jury indictment was returned in March of 2019 against Alexander for first-degree perjury. It stems from an FBI investigation which brought allegations that on August 17th, 2012, he gave false testimony on three occasions when he was the only sworn witness before a grand jury that indicted former Hopkinsville City Councilmember Ann Cherry on charges of tampering with a witness, tampering with public records, and second-degree official misconduct.
The Hopkinsville Police Department alleged Cherry hindered their investigation into the ‘Southside Prowler’ case by using her official capacity as a member of council.
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.
The first special prosecutor, Commownealth’s Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins, was prepared to dismiss the indictment against Alexander during a January 27 hearing, but Cherry invoked Marsy’s law as the victim in the case to buy time to seek a new prosecutor.
The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office appointed James Leskousky to replace Wiggins and he filed a motion to withdraw the motion to dismiss.
Judge John Atkins Monday morning granted that motion and set a hearing for March 24, when a new trial date will be scheduled.