A former Trigg County sheriff has pled guilty to providing alcohol to a person under 21 and tampering with a witness, according to the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office.
Former Trigg County Sheriff Jason Barnes, 50, of Gracey, pled guilty on Monday in Trigg Circuit Court. Prosecutors said that in February 2020, Barnes, while serving as sheriff, provided alcohol to a person under the age of 21 and “later knowingly practiced deceit with the intent to affect the testimony of a potential witness.”
Barnes resigned as Trigg County sheriff in August 2020. He was elected to the office in 2018.
Tampering with a witness is a Class D felony, while third-degree unlawful transaction with a minor is a class A misdemeanor.
The case was jointly investigated by Kentucky State Police, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 8, 2022. Barnes faces up to five years in prison on the tampering charge and up to 364 days on the unlawful transaction with a minor count.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
