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Two Convicted in Breathitt Co. Vote Buying Case

Posted: 3:58 AM Apr 12, 2012
Reporter: AP

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Two eastern Kentucky residents have been convicted of buying votes in the May 2010 primary election in Breathitt County.

A federal jury in Lexington found 61-year-old Naomi Johnson and 44-year-old Earl Young guilty of conspiring to buy votes and vote buying. U.S. Attorney Kerry Harvey's office said Wednesday that another co-defendant, 61-year-old Jackie Jennings, pleaded guilty to two counts of vote buying and a conspiracy charge during the first day of the 2 1/2-day trial.

The three were accused of buying votes for county magistrate candidate Michael Salyers. Salyers pleaded guilty to conspiracy in February and will be sentenced May 23.

Sentencing for Johnson, Young and Jennings will be July 26.