FRANKFORT, Ky. — Pike Circuit Judge Howard Keith Hall has been temporarily suspended from his position with pay, following his indictment by a federal grand jury on allegations of theft and fraud.
A federal grand jury in Frankfort returned the indictment against Hall on Thursday, charging him with two counts of mail fraud and one count of theft of government funds.
Following his indictment, the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission issued an order Friday suspending him from his position with pay.
“During his temporary suspension, Judge Hall shall not use his judicial office at the Pike County Judicial Center, nor any other judicial resources,” the order says. “Judge Hall shall also forbear from using his secure courthouse access pass and shall turn in any access passes, keys or credentials to court security while the suspension is in effect.”
According to the indictment, the allegations stem from an alleged scheme in 2010, when Hall served as county attorney.
The indictment alleges Hall appointed an unidentified attorney as a part-time assistant county attorney who was required to work at least 100 hours per month. However, the indictment alleges that attorney “performed almost no work on behalf of PCAO (Pike County Attorney’s Office), did not report to work at PCAO or the Pike County Child Support Enforcement Office, and other than a handful of times, did not represent the PCAO in court.”
“At no time between Oct. 1, 2010, and May 15, 2020, did Attorney A work more than 100 hours per month on behalf of the PCAO,” the indictment continues.
Despite that, the indictment alleges Hall submitted false payroll certifications to the Prosecutors Advisory Council, which funds the county attorney’s office across the state. During that time, the attorney received $290,140 in gross pay, which swells to approximately $440,000 when benefits such as insurance are included.
Separately, between 2011 and 2020, Hall claimed to be a partner in the unidentified attorney’s law firm, for which he received various payments described as “distributions” totaling $505,900.
If convicted, Hall faces up to 20 years in prison for the mail fraud charges and up to 10 years for the theft charge. In addition, he could be ordered to pay fines of either $250,000 or twice the gross proceeds of the scheme, as well as restitution.
Hall is scheduled to have his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Lexington on May 16.
This is the second bit of bad news for the judge this month. Two weeks ago, the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission issued a public reprimand against Hall for actions on and off the bench, which the commission said, “demonstrate bias, a lack of judicial decorum, and an abuse of judicial authority, undermining public confidence in the integrity, impartiality and independence of the judiciary.”
A copy of the indictment and the order of suspension is reprinted below:
