Judge plans to rule Thursday on whether to make more evidence public in bourbon thefts

FRANKFORT — Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate said Wednesday he will issue a ruling Thursday on whether to make public more evidence in the bourbon-theft-steroid crime ring.

The evidence filed in the Franklin Circuit Court clerk's office is not technically under seal but has not been made available to the media at the request of defense attorneys, who have said its release will impair the ability to get a fair trial for their clients.

Whitney Lawson, attorney for Gilbert "Toby" Curtsinger, an alleged central figure in the crime ring, said during a hearing Wednesday that "the media is not entitled to it."

Jeremy Rogers, an attorney for The Courier-Journal, said the evidence, called discovery, should be available to the media and the public.

Investigators said the crime ring allegedly stole more than $100,000 worth of bourbon from Buffalo Distillery in Frankfort and Wild Turkey distillery in Lawrenceburg. Four of the 10 indicted defendants have pleaded guilty to reduced charges.

This story was originally published August 12, 2015 at 2:44 PM with the headline "Judge plans to rule Thursday on whether to make more evidence public in bourbon thefts ."