Following a Friday afternoon interview with the News Edge, Trigg County Sheriff Aaron Acree has responded to the most recent update in the investigation against himself and his office — in which special prosecution has switched from Todd County Attorney Jeffrey Traughber to Muhlenberg County Commonwealth’s Attorney Clayton Adams.
In a letter to the Office of Special Prosecution, Traughber wrote this: “It has become apparent that the investigation may result in multiple charges, including at least one felony,” leading him to believe the prosecution would be best suited coming from elsewhere.
To this day, no criminal charges have been levied against Acree, and he said he was unaware of these developments until Thursday afternoon.
Asked if he was aware of any felonies being discussed in this cooperative investigation, Acree said: “absolutely not.”
With “Election Day” approaching, Acree said he will continue to serve Trigg County — and let its voters decide.
Acree added that he’s frustrated getting the information secondhand and having to respond “this late in the matter,” but that “it is what it is.”
He does not know what the next step in this investigation will be, but finds its timing interesting.
Acree also finds himself as the defendant in a “whistleblower” civil suit filed by two former deputies from his tenure in office — Mike Sandbrink and Michelle Kent.
On March 11, an FBI and Kentucky State Police investigation began on Acree and the Trigg County Sheriff’s Office, with Acree being interviewed by investigators April 1.
Acree said investigators informed him these inquiries were the result of an anonymous tip.
To this day, Acree said officials have no informed him who sent the anonymous tip.
Around this time, Acree said he was notified by both his staff and by an IT company that the surveillance system within his offices had been shut down at some point — obviously alarming to him.
Soon thereafter, Acree said he learned from associates that Sandbrink had allegedly disconnected the agency’s surveillance system for a 24-hour period.
Before being able to address this with Sandbrink, Acree said he went out of town, and while out of town, deputies at TCSO were informed by both Sandbrink and Kent that, “going forward, they should report directly to them, and not Acree” if they had any questions or concerns.
Acree said those meetings were held without his knowledge or authority, something he also said was “unacceptable.”
Following this, Acree issued letters of suspension with pay on April 14 to both Sandbrink and Kent. Acree said the suspensions were in relation to alleged actions against the surveillance system and “attempts to undermine authority.”
On June 30, both individuals were terminated, because Acree said “their services were no longer needed.” No other punishments, Acree added, were levied against Sandbrink or Kent.
On July 13, Acree said he learned of Sandbrink and Kent’s lawsuit against him and the Trigg County Fiscal Court.
As a result, Acree said the lawsuit simply “lacks merit.”
