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Mayor Hardwick to reject Special Prosecutor's offer

****Updated at 3:37pmCT, after receiving an email from Chief Jason Cross and talking with Mayor Hardwick. The update is indicated by strike throughs (old) and Bold (new).****
Count one of a two-count indictment, - a felony charge - of a two count indictment has already been dismissed would be dismissed if Mayor Hardwick agrees to to terms of the plea offer. A lesser Count 2 - a misdemeanor charge which would not prevent Mayor Hardwick from seeking re-election - could be settled with a plea agreement, but Mayor Hardwick says he'll reject the offer, determined to be completely vindicated in court.
Click on headline for story with facsimile copies of proposed agreement

By Ed Waggener

With major charges against him already dismissed, Mayor Curtis Hardwick, has delivered to local media copies of a plea agreement - to ColumbiaMagazine.com this morning - he received earlier from Special Prosecutor/Commonwealth Attorney John Gardner, which he said, today, that he will reject.

The offer, in a two page document appended to this article, is self-explanatory.

It states that Count 1, "Theft by unlawful taking, $500 or more but less than $10,000, KRS 514030, a Class D Felony has been dismissed."



A second count, "Official Misconduct 1st Degree KRS KRS 522.929 a Class A Misdemeanor," which is still pending, would involve a recommendation by the Commonwealth's Attorney to carry a penalty of "Twelve (12) months, a $500 fine, and cost," but the offer stipulates, "The Commonwealth agrees to unsupervised probation for a period of One (1) Year."

Mayor Hardwick said that were he to agree to the offer, he would not be prevented from running for re-election, or serving should he win.

"That's not the point," he said. "I made a mistake based on the best advice I had. But it was an honest mistake."

The case is being tried in Cumberland County Circuit Court, with Judge David Williams presiding.

Mayor Hardwick said he is confident that he will prevail in Court on the second count, as well.

Mayor Hardwick is seeking an unprecedented fifth term in the November 6, 2018, general election. He faces two opponents, former Mayor Pamela Hoots, currently a member of the City Council, and Columbia scientist Dr. Ben Arnold, who placed second in a three way election, running as a write-in, in the 2014 Mayoral Election. - EW


This story was posted on 2018-08-22 11:06:16
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Mayor Hardwick will reject Commonwealth offer on plea to misdemeanor - I



2018-08-22 - Columbia, KY - Photo Submitted by Curtis Hardwick, Mayor, City of Columbia. Paired photo, see also: Mayor Hardwick will reject Commonwealth offer on plea to misdemeanor - II
Read More... | Comments? | Click here to share, print, or bookmark this photo.



Mayor Hardwick will reject Commonwealth offer on plea to misdemeanor - II



2018-08-22 - Columbia, KY - Photo Submitted by Curtis Hardwick, Mayor, City of Columbia.
Paired photo. See: Mayor Hardwick will reject Commonwealth offer on plea to misdemeanor - I

Read More... | Comments? | Click here to share, print, or bookmark this photo.



 

































 
 
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