Breckinridge County Sheriff Todd Pate is now facing additional indictments related to his March 8, 2019 DUI crash that injured a Leitchfield woman.
Earlier this month, WXBC.com and WDRB.com were first to report that a Breckinridge County Grand Jury indicted Pate on new charges of assault and criminal mischief. In the same indictment, Pate was re-indicted for DUI (second offense) and four counts of wanton endangerment.
The latest indictment supersedes Pate’s five count indictment issued in April, and does not include an indictment for tampering with physical evidence, a charge he previously faced.
Pate, who has been sheriff since 2003, was arrested the evening of March 8 by Kentucky State Trooper Joey Beasley after becoming involved in a two-vehicle accident that injured Jill Lanning, of Leitchfield. The wreck happened in the 9400 block of Hwy 259, near McDaniels.
The investigation revealed that Pate was driving his personal vehicle, a 2018 Chevrolet pickup truck, when he struck a 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis, being driven by Lanning. After striking Lanning’s vehicle, Pate’s truck struck a utility pole before coming to rest in a barbwire fence.
Lanning was transported to Breckinridge County Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries and later released.
After the accident, Pate was seen by witnesses hiding beer in a tree line. When Beasley arrived on the scene, the sheriff was “standing above his truck in a wooded area,” according to the arrest citation.
Beasley wrote in the citation that Pate exuded a “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person, blood shot eyes, slurred speech and (was) unsteady on his feet.” Beasley also said he had to ask Pate to “lean against the rear” of his cruiser “so he would not fall into traffic.”
The citation further states that Pate consented to a “breath test,” and recorded a .159, nearly twice the legal limit of .08.
This incident marks the second time since October 2015 that Pate has been charged with DUI. Pate was arrested in Bowling Green after being found intoxicated and behind the wheel of a vehicle in the parking lot of a Waffle House.
Police had been looking for Pate after his wife swore out a warrant against him for threatening to kill her and her parents. He was charged with terroristic threatening and DUI among other charges. He later pled guilty to DUI.
According to Pate’s attorney, the sheriff entered a 45-day treatment program in Tennessee within a few days of his latest drunk driving arrest.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
