Former Kentucky sheriff pleads guilty, avoids further jail time in 3rd DUI case
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- Pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI, official misconduct and wanton endangerment.
- 365‑day term includes 60‑day minimum; sentence probated for two years; five‑year diversion.
- Official misconduct conviction bars running; license suspended three years; certification surrendered.
Former Robertson County Sheriff Terry Gray pleaded guilty recently and avoided further jail time for his third DUI case in less than two years.
Gray, 49, pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI, first-degree official misconduct and first-degree wanton endangerment. A charge of reckless driving was dropped in the deal, according to court records.
The charges stem from an Oct. 7, 2025, arrest in Mason County after Gray was caught driving more than 110 mph and nearly flipped his vehicle.
Gray was sentenced to 365 days in jail for the DUI charge, with a minimum of 60 days served. He had been incarcerated for more than 150 days at the time of his March 13 sentencing, so his sentence was probated for two years along with the official misconduct charge, according to court documents.
“Mr. Gray understands the seriousness of this situation and has accepted full responsibility for his actions,” Gray’s attorney, Katherine Bennett, said in a statement. “The sentence imposed reflects both accountability and an opportunity for rehabilitation. He is committed to complying with all conditions, including treatment, and to making meaningful changes moving forward.”
The former sheriff was sentenced to pretrial diversion for five years on the wanton endangerment charge, according to court documents. The sentences were set to run concurrent, meaning Gray was released from custody at his sentencing hearing and is on pretrial diversion for the next five years.
Pretrial diversion is a program that postpones prison sentences for qualified defendants who plead guilty to class D felonies and places them on probation. Defendants on diversion must obey all conditions of their probation, and if they complete the program, the charges are dismissed.
One of the conditions of Gray’s diversion is to seek long-term inpatient treatment. He must also pay a $1,590 fine within 12 months of completing treatment, surrender his law enforcement certification and have his driver’s license suspended for three years, among other stipulations, according to court records.
Kentucky Department of Corrections records say Gray began his diversion March 16 and it is expected to last until March 12, 2031.
Mason County Commonwealth’s Attorney Johnathan Gay said he intentionally kept the official misconduct charge in the guilty plea deal, as a conviction on the charge prevents Gray from running for office in the future.
“Terry Gray’s conduct in Mason County put lives in danger and undermined trust in elected officials,” Gay said in a statement. “He has forfeited the right to serve as Sheriff or in any other public office.”
Gray’s DUI history
The October DUI arrest occurred while Gray was reportedly looking for a vehicle near the Mason-Robertson county line on U.S. Route 68, according to court documents.
Gray was wearing an official Robertson County Sheriff’s Office uniform and had a gun and handcuffs at the time of his arrest, according to court documents. He took a breath test and had a blood alcohol content level of 0.226, nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08.
He resigned as sheriff at the request of Gov. Andy Beshear, who previously said Gray’s third DUI charge was sufficient grounds to remove him from office.
“Certainly the three together present a significant case for habitual drunkenness, which is mentioned within the statute and is defined under law,” Beshear previously said.
Gray was appointed Robertson County sheriff in 2021 and reelected the following year. Robertson County, about 55 miles northwest of Lexington, is the smallest county in Kentucky, and home to about 2,400 residents.
In his two earlier DUI cases, Gray received two years of probation. He entered Alford pleas in both cases, a type of deal where a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence to convict if the case proceeds.
Gray’s first DUI arrest happened in December 2023. Court documents say Gray drove his marked cruiser while intoxicated and got into an argument with a Robertson County School District employee.
In the second DUI eight months later, Gray overturned a tractor and acted erratically, according to his arrest citation. Gray got the tractor upright and then was arrested after a traffic stop on Main Street in Mount Olivet.
