‘He’s still the sheriff.’ Jessamine County sheriff charged with DUI in Nicholasville
Jessamine County Sheriff Kevin Corman was arrested early Friday and charged with driving under the influence.
Police were contacted about an erratic driver on Sulpher Wells near the East Jessamine County High School late Thursday night. A caller advised a white SUV with official plates was swerving and having difficulty staying in the lane. Nicholasville police observed the vehicle on Maple Street, noticed the SUV cross the center line twice and pulled the vehicle over.
Corman was driving his official sheriff’s vehicle at the time, police said.
According to the citation, Corman was unsteady on his feet as he approached Nicholasville police and smelled of alcohol. Corman failed a field sobriety test and agreed to a preliminary blood-alcohol breath test, which read .136.
Police then searched Corman’s vehicle and found a white cup with alcohol in it. Corman admitted it was bourbon. After being charged, Corman agreed to a second breath test which read .107, above the legal limit of .08.
Corman was stopped about 12:02 a.m. Friday and arrested at 12.33 a.m. He was subsequently detained in the Jessamine County Detention Center.
In addition to driving under the influence, Corman was also charged with possessing an open alcoholic beverage and careless driving.
Jessamine County Sheriff Lt. Anthony Purcell said Corman was not commenting on the charge and was not planning on stepping down.
“He’s an elected official,” Purcell said. “He’s elected by the citizens of Jessamine County. He’s still the sheriff.”
Kentucky law allows an elected official to remain in office while charges are pending.
Corman was first elected sheriff in 2006 and has been with the sheriff’s office since the 1990s, Purcell said.
Purcell said a court date has been set for October and until then, “he has the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise.”
This story was originally published September 10, 2021 at 10:10 AM.
