Former Ky. Attorney Pleads Guilty to Theft; Charges Include Stealing Money in Personal Injury Lawsuit

Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo announced that his office has charged former Warren County Attorney Mike Caudill with two counts of theft following a lengthy investigation by the Kentucky Bureau of Investigation into allegations that Caudill misappropriated monies received by his office while serving as county attorney.

Caudill entered a plea of guilty to both charges in the Warren Circuit Court. He will be formally sentenced following his entry of a guilty plea to federal charges that he submitted false bills for reimbursement of child support collection work he did not perform.

The investigation began in early 2004, following allegations that Caudill was taking fees received by the Warren County Attorney’s office for collection of bad checks and using them for his personal benefit. Caudill was accused of stealing $56,100 in fees his office received for collecting bad checks between 2002 and 2003. Under Kentucky law these fees could only be used for county attorney operating expenses.

In addition, he was charged with stealing $8,000 which was part of a settlement received by a client in a personal injury lawsuit. Allegations that Caudill submitted false bills for reimbursement of child support collection work he did not perform are being handled by the United States Attorney’s office, Middle District of Tennessee.

“I have known and respected Mike Caudill for over 30 years, but justice is blind when it comes to matters like this. The public confidence in officials who are entrusted with public monies must be preserved and my office will hold accountable any person who violates the law,” said Stumbo.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Caudill will receive a one-year prison sentence and will be required to repay $56,100 in restitution to the Warren County fiscal court. The $8,000 taken from a client’s personal injury settlement has since been repaid. Caudill resigned his law license under terms of permanent disbarment.