(LEX 18) — Former commonwealth’s attorney Ronnie Goldy was taken into federal custody at his home in Morehead Friday morning, the FBI confirmed to LEX 18.
Goldy has been indicted on six federal counts of “honest service wire fraud,” six counts of “travel act,” and two counts of “federal program bribery.
The counts relate to the accusations that he used his position to release a criminal defendant from jail.
Goldy and the individual, whose name isn't listed in the indictment, had a sexual relationship, according to the indictment. Goldy is accused of asking for and receiving explicit photos and videos from the individual.
The individual knew that the explicit photos and actions were in exchange for Goldy's willingness to do favors for her in his official capacity, according to the indictment.
“Goldy used his position as Commonwealth Attorney to exert pressure on other public officials to perform official actions that benefited” the individual, the indictment alleges.
The indictment lines out multiple different situations were Goldy is accused of reaching out to a judge or another prosecutor on the individual's behalf.
At one point he contacted a judge after a 2017 arrest and asked "can we let her out," according to the indictment. In 2018, Goldy is accused of reaching out to a judge and saying that the individual was "working for law enforcement" and "we need [Individual 1] out if possible," according to the indictment.
In 2019, he is accused of telling a special prosecutor on the individual's case that she was his "cousin" and suggested that a drug trafficking charge against her should be characterized as drug possession instead, according to the indictment.
If convicted, Goldy could face up to 20 years in prison on six of the counts against him, up to five years on another six of the counts, and up to 10 years on the other two counts.
He is set to have his first court appearance on Monday, according to court records.
LEX 18 Investigates first reported months ago that Goldy was under investigation by a federal agency.
Goldy served as the commonwealth’s attorney for Bath, Rowan, Menifee, and Montgomery counties.
Goldy was temporarily suspended from practicing law last year after allegations came to light that he traded legal favors with a criminal defendant for nude photos and videos of her.
He resigned as commonwealth’s attorney and eventually was convicted on impeachment by lawmakers.
When the allegations first surfaced last year, Misty Helton came forward as the woman for whom Goldy allegedly did legal favors. She was arrested on drug trafficking charges just days after the news of the situation with Goldy broke.
Helton spoke to LEX 18 while being held at the jail last year and said that her friendship with Goldy turned transactional.
