[KY] Despite wife's recant, Police Chief Herron prosecuted, pled guilty to lesser domestic charges, and "resigns"

...Once the issue went to court, Herron’s wife accompanied him and stated that there had been no physical assault and that it was all a ploy by the children. By the end of that particular court session, local citizens and officials assumed that the issue would end up with charges being dropped. Regardless, the investigation ensued...

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[KY] Mayor suspends Police Chief Herron - Their children say they saw Herron choking mom - ...[Their] son showed deputies a text from his mother saying Donald had assaulted her and broken things in the kitchen. The children also said they witnessed Donald with his hand around Dorothy's neck...

KY. POLICE CHIEF RESIGNS AFTER HARASSMENT PLEA
wave3
Feb 06, 2010
MORTON'S GAP, KY. - A western Kentucky police chief has resigned after pleading guilty to harassment with physical contact during a domestic dispute with his wife. The Messenger in Madisonville reported that 50-year-old Donald Jay Herron pleaded guilty Thursday in Hopkins County Circuit Court and resigned his position later that day. Hopkins County Attorney Todd P'Pool said Herron's wife, Dorothy, wanted the charge to be dimissed following the Dec. 2 incident, but his office decided to an amended charge of harassment with physical contact.

MORTON'S GAP BEGINS SEARCH FOR NEW POLICE CHIEF
WFIE
By Cory Stark
Posted by Sarah Harlan
Feb 08, 2010
[Excerpts] The former Morton's Gap Police Chief Donald Herron, who has been charged with fourth degree assault, has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and has resigned as chief. Now, the search begins for Herron's replacement. Reporter: "Are you confident that you will be reinstated as Morton's Gap police chief?" "After the charges are dropped, yes," Herron said. That was the answer 50-year-old Donald Jay Herron gave three weeks ago, but last week, Herron pleaded guilty to physically harassing his wife. That plea led to his resignation. "We just gave the option to resign or be terminated," council member Chris Phelps said... While the city is without a police chief, Kentucky State Police and the Hopkins County Sheriff's Department will help patrol the area. Officials said Herron received 30 days of suspended jail time on the condition that he has no abusive contact with his wife. http://www.14wfie.com/global/story.asp?s=11953585

MORTONS GAP POLICE CHIEF PLEADS GUILTY
iSurf News
J. L. Graham
06 February 2010
Local officials were stunned Thursday, FEB 4, to find that Morton’s Gap Police Chief Donald Herron has pled guilty to an abuse related charge... Once the issue went to court, Herron’s wife accompanied him and stated that there had been no physical assault and that it was all a ploy by the children. By the end of that particular court session, local citizens and officials assumed that the issue would end up with charges being dropped. Regardless, the investigation ensued... [Full article here]

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CHIEF HERRON'S WIFE DENIES ABUSE
INSIDE 14WFIE.com
By Cory Stark
Posted by Noah Stubbs
Posted: Jan 14, 2010
Chief Donald Jay Herron was accused of assaulting his wife last month, but his wife maintains it didn't happen. Dorthy Herron stayed by her husband's side as he was in court facing charges of assaulting her. She says it never happened. "There was no domestic violence," Dorthy Herron said. "This is a vendetta against my husband and myself with my children." The police report says Dorothy told the same story to deputies the night of the alleged incident on December 2, 2009. That same night, deputies viewed a text message sent from Dorothy's cell phone to her son saying that her husband had assaulted her and broken things in the kitchen..."I do feel that in the end this will be dropped," Dorthy Herron said... [Full article here]
 [police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner violence (IPV) abuse law enforcement public safety top cop official recant recanted state of kentucky]