BRANDENBURG, Ky. (WDRB) -- A
grand jury in Meade County has indicted two officers after finding they had an
inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old girl.
The grand jury returned a True
Bill Monday after hearing about four hours of testimony.
Stratford Young, a former
Kentucky State Police trooper is now charged with one count of rape and two
counts of sodomy; Todd Matti, a former Brandenburg officer, is now charged with
two counts of sodomy. Both men have entered not guilty pleas regarding their
charges.
A special grand jury comprised
of six men and six women started listening to two Jefferson County prosecutors
assigned to the case at 9 a.m. A KSP investigator and a KSP sergeant assigned
to special investigations was assisting prosecutors.
Special prosecutor Thomas Wine
told us all of the accused officers had a chance to testify during Monday's
proceedings, but chose not to. He also said at this time, they decided not to
present the case against the other accused officers. He says he doesn't want to
comment on that decision because it could affect the cases. The other accused
officers are former Trooper Jerry Clanton and former Breckinridge Deputy Chris
Woosley.
"It is disappointing for
several families for our agency. We feel like we still do a really good job and
we are proud of who we are," said Kentucky State Trooper Jeff Gregory.
It has been six months since
WDRB News uncovered information about the four officers being accused of an
inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old girl. Young and Clanton claimed
they thought she was 18. Court documents show Clanton admitted to sexual
relations with the girl and called it a moral mistake.
The attorney for former trooper
Clanton says he and his client are relieved the grand jury did not indict him
Monday
Clanton lost his job as a state
trooper and unsuccessfully appealed to win it back during a hearing earlier
this year.
Court documents show Clanton
had four sexual encounters with the alleged victim.
His attorney says there is one
important element to Clanton's involvement that may prevent his indictment.
"It's abundantly clear
that Officer Clanton didn't know that this woman was underage, and I think the
decision not to present him to the grand jury was the correct one,"
attorney Brian Butler said.
Butler says the alleged victim
has given recorded statements saying she lied about her age to Jerry Clanton.
With two indictments, KSP says
the case is far from being over.
Trooper Gregory also said,
"The investigation is still on-going. Investigators anticipate
presentation to other grand juries in the surrounding future."
Bonds for both Matti and Young
were set at $10,000, but each man only had to post 10 percent of that amount.
The judge has ordered both men
to have no contact with females under the age of 18, excluding family members.
Young posted bond and opted to
make no comment as he left the Meade County Courthouse. Matti also posted bond,
and he too declined to comment.
The two men's next court date
is in May to allow time for attorneys to look over the evidence which will be
sealed and kept from the public. Officials say this is being done to protect
the victim.
