BATH COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — A judge has sentenced former Bath County Attorney Donald “Champ” Maze to 10 years in prison on drug trafficking and other charges, of which he must serve at least one full year to be followed by five years of probation.
“You’ve done a lot of good in your life, but you’ve messed up in federal court and state court,” the judge said Monday morning in handing down the sentence. “I don’t enjoy doing this, but there has to be consequences.”
Maze was sentenced for multiple counts of drug trafficking, being a persistent felony offender and wanton endangerment.
He previously served time for vote buying and perjury when he was Bath County Attorney.
Maze’s attorney’s had sought probation or home incarceration, but the special prosecutors in the case opposed it.
Prior to sentencing, Maze spoke on his own behalf, apologizing for his crimes.
“I know I’ve let a lot of people down,” he told the judge.
Maze’s mother and a pastor asked for leniency.
“I depend on him a lot,” Maze’s mother said.
Maze also addressed the effect his crimes have had on his ex-wife, 21st Judicial Circuit Court Judge Beth Lewis Maze.
“I’ve hurt my ex-wife in all this craziness,” he said. “I’m the only one that has done anything wrong.”
But in the next breath, he also blamed media coverage of the case.
“There’s a lot I want to say, but my words get twisted and they hurt someone,” he said. “I’ve been a victim; I hope nobody is the victim of false media reports.
“There’s been a lot of ignorance on my ex-wife, unjustifiably.”
Kentucky’s Judicial Conduct Commission has levied official misconduct charges against Lewis Maze, who is accused of forging names on officials documents and failing to acknowledge having done so during an investigation.
The charges stem from accusations that Lewis Maze ordered her ex-husband to be drug tested even though she wasn’t assigned to his district court case.
