Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Katie Webster elected to Ampersand Board of Directors

We are delighted to announce that Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Katie Webster has been elected to the Board of Directors for Ampersand Sexual Violence Resource Center of the Bluegrass. Formerly known as the Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center, Ampersand works to support survivors of sexual violence and to educate the community about rape culture. Ampersand is a nonprofit organization that serves 17 counties, including Fayette County.

Ms. Webster will also serve on Ampersand’s Development and Marketing Committee for a three year term. Ms. Webster has worked as a prosecutor at the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for 10 years and is a member of the Special Victim’s Unit, prosecuting domestic violence and adult sexual assault cases. She is passionate about working with survivors of sexual violence, and working with law enforcement and other community agencies to create and implement a community sexual assault response team for Lexington.

https://www.facebook.com/lexingtonprosecutor/posts/3389473084611423

October 22nd Wear Purple Day to raise Domestic Violence Awareness

Welcome 2020 Summer Interns

Our 2020 Interns are as follows: (Top left to right) Dearon Dixon University of Kentucky College of Law, Tristan Finn University of Kentucky College of Law, Lucas Tanaka Davidson College.

(Bottom left to right) Walter Milam University of Kentucky College of Law, Hunter Branham University of Kentucky College of Law, Lindsey Studebaker Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, and Alison D’Alessandro University of Kentucky.

4/2/20 Governor Beshear Covid19 Commutations

Felony Strangulation Law Now in Effect

Strangulation is one of the best predictors for the subsequent homicide of victims of domestic violence. Kentucky’s felony strangulation law becomes effective today and to better prosecute these important cases Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Kathy Phillips and Amanda Parker, along with Advocate Erica Bybee, are attending the Advanced Course on Strangulation Prevention in Indianapolis with trainers Casey Gwinn, Esq – Alliance for HOPE International President (Former Lead/ Elected Prosecutor- San Diego) Gael Strack, Esq CEO & Co-founder of HOPE (Former Head Deputy Prosecutor of DV & Child Abuse Unit – San Diego) Dr. William Smock – Louisville Metro Police Dept Director & Police Surgeon, Clinical Forensic Medical Program.

Meet the Summer Interns for 2019

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Meet our newest Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney – Jenna Cassady

September 17, 2018

Meet our newest Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jenna McNeal Cassady, sworn in today by Chief Fayette Circuit Judge Pamela R. Goodwine. You can see from Jenna’s expression she is excited to be here – and we are excited to have her on our team.

Jenna is a 2016 University of Kentucky College of Law graduate, with a passion for advocacy in crimes against women. Before returning to her home state of Kentucky last month, Jenna was a domestic violence prosecutor in Miami-Dade Florida.

Welcome Jenna McNeal Cassady!

Meet our newest Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney – Andrew Wilhoite

July 2, 2018

Meet our newest Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney – Andrew Wilhoite. Andrew was sworn-in this morning by Chief Circuit Judge Pamela Goodwine. Andrew has spent the last year in Kenton County as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney. He is a 2016 graduate of Chase College of Law and the 2010 graduate of Morehead State University, where he played Varsity Football. Andrew is a competitive power lifter and an avid Kentucky athletics fan (like the rest of this office!)
Welcome Andrew.

The Lexington Police Awards Banquet 2018

June 19, 2018

The Lexington Police Awards Banquet is one of the best evenings of the year because it gives us the opportunity to publicly thank and honor those who serve and protect the citizens of Fayette County. Our office presented a special recognition to 2 outstanding officers for their work on felony cases in Fayette County – Lt. David Richardson and Det. Franz Wolff. Thank you Lt. Richardson and Det. Wolff for all that you do for public safety in Lexington.

Meet the Summer Interns for 2018

			Erik Young is a native of Lexington, Kentucky. He graduated from the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a Management major. He is a veteran of the United States Army Military Police Corps, serving in San Antonio, Texas and Vicenza, Italy. Erik has a background in sales, professional photography and as a Series 7 stockbroker with an interest in option markets. Erik serves as Online Editor for the Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture and Natural Resources Law.
			Hello! My name is Anne Spalding and I am a rising 3L at the University of Kentucky College of Law. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Kentucky in 2016, graduating Summa Cum Laude. I am originally from Lebanon Kentucky but have spent the past 6 years living in Lexington while attending the University of Kentucky. After law school I hope to practice criminal law in some capacity. If I’m not working or studying, you will probably find me running (I just completed my 4th half marathon), spending time with family and friends, traveling, or cozied up with a good book.
			My name is Sydney Banks and I am from Washington, DC and attend the University of Kentucky. I major in English with a minor in Criminology on pursuit to become a lawyer. Additionally, I am a Board Director for the Student Activities Board, a member of the National Honor Society, and a new member of the Speech and Debate team. During my free time, I enjoy reading books by Zora Neale Hurston, listening to 90s music, and collecting bottle caps.
			My name is Jeff Buckles. I was born and raised in Lexington, Ky. After graduating from Lexington Catholic High School, I enlisted in the Navy. I served as a Corpsman (Medic) in Navy hospitals, and eventually served with a Marine Corps infantry battalion. While I was serving with the USMC battalion, I deployed to the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. After being honorably discharged, I attended U.K. College of Agriculture, and graduated with a B.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Science. I worked for the Post Office as a mail carrier for a little over a year before attending U.K. College of Law. I will be a 2L this coming school year. Professionally, I am interested in criminal law, litigation, family law, and I am fascinated with procedure. My other interests include: weight lifting, swimming, traveling, hiking, the Green Bay Packers, trivia, and podcasts. My goals for this summer are to learn from seasoned prosecutors, improve my legal writing and research, and to get legal exposer outside of the classroom.
			Hi, my name is Olivia Senter from Madisonville, KY, which is located in the western part of the state. I graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Strategic Communication (Public Relations) in 2016. I’m now a third-year law student at the University of Kentucky College of Law with the goal of becoming a criminal prosecutor. I love my dogs, watching sports, going to concerts, visiting new places, and I still like reading for fun. Go Cats!
			Michael Stacy was born in Paducah, Kentucky and went to undergraduate school at the University of Kentucky, majoring in History with a special focus on Classical Antiquity. I am currently attending the University of Kentucky’s School of Law. I’ve always been very interested in prosecution, as my parents are both prosecutors back in Western Kentucky, and want to pursue it as a career after finishing law school.
			Ellen Findley is a native of the Lexington area and a rising third-year law student at Penn State University, where she works as a clinical student at the Center for Immigrants’ Rights and as an Articles Editor for the Journal of Law & International Affairs. She graduated summa cum laude from Lipscomb University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. When she is not studying, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending time with her dogs.
			My name is Carlin C. Conway, I am a third-year law student at the University of Kentucky College of Law. I was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, where I attended Bryan Station High School. In undergrad, I studied Criminal Justice at Eastern Kentucky University. When I am not studying and preparing for class, I like to spend my free time hanging out with my friends and family. I also enjoying hiking, fishing, and traveling. After graduating law school, I hope to be practicing criminal law in Lexington.
			Jonathan Sedlaczek grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, but realized the error of his ways and left his hometown for Lexington after he graduated from high school. Jonathan graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2013 with bachelor’s degrees in history, political science, and psychology. After graduation, he left Kentucky to attend graduate school at Auburn University where he spent the next four years as a doctoral student in history. Jonathan’s experience in academia made him realize that what he really wanted to do was use his education to help society more directly and with that goal in mind he enrolled in the UK College of Law in 2017. He is now a rising 2L and lives with his veterinarian wife and their three cats and dreams of one day wearing clothes not covered in fur.
			Mason Hill is a Central Kentucky native who comes to the Fayette County Commonwealth Attorney’s office after completing his first year at University of Michigan’s Law School. At the University of Michigan, he is an associate editor of the “reflaw.org” (an online refugee law forum) and has been a student attorney in the Unemployment Insurance Law Clinic. Prior to law school he lived in Washington, D.C. where he graduated from Georgetown University. In his spare time Mason enjoys spending time with his family, walking his 16 year old Shetland Sheepdog, and running.