Judge accused of asking colleague to have threesome with her and pastor
A family court judge has been accused of making sexual advances and demanding sex as well as money for “preferential treatment’”
Kenton County Family Court Judge Dawn Gentry faces nine misconduct related charges and the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission has filed charges against her, accusing her of favouritism and making sexual misconduct.
The commission investigated claims that the judge made inappropriate sexual advances, traded jobs for donations to her campaign, retaliated against employees and attorneys, kept false timesheets, allowed guitars to be played in the office and her employees to consume alcohol.
Gentry also used her own legal panel, which is her own and is designed to offer free help for children facing abuse, for campaign work.
In an affidavit obtained by the Cincinnati Enquirer a former member of the panel claimed Gentry sexually harassed her.
Katherine Schulz alleges Gentry asked her if she would have sex with her husband and join her in group sex with Gentry’s former pastor and current case specialist.
Ms Schulz claims she felt ostracised and eventually resigned when she did not comply with Gentry’s request.
Gentry reportedly dismissed attorney Mike Hummel from the panel because he did not donate enough money to her reelection campaign.
“This isn’t just little bulls**t that happens behind the scenes in every county,” Mr Hummel told the Cincinnati Enquirer.
“This is someone abusing power to affect the lives of others.”
Gentry is also accused of having a sexual relationship with her former pastor and current case specialist, Stephen Penrose, and the relationship lead to her hiring him.
Gentry has denied all allegations, including her having a sexual relationship with Penrose.
Gentry also acknowledged appointing her “acquaintances” to a permanent custody roster, but added “almost all attorneys who practice in this county” are her acquaintances.
Abused children ‘caught in the crossfire’
In a statement obtained by the Examiner, a witness says Gentry’s behaviour was not exclusive to colleagues, but also abused children seeking help.
When lawyers failed to do what Gentry asked, they were kicked off the legal panel, or resigned, according to the Examiner.
Clients, or children, were transferred from lawyer to lawyer, when Gentry’s actions were rebuffed.
Ms Schultz said in her statement she believed after Mr Hummel was removed from the panel, those involved in cases were impacted.
“I believed that lack of representation made case progress difficult for children, parents, and social workers involved in the case,” the statement says.
Mr Hummel donated over $A1000 to Gentry’s election campaign, but was replaced by Delana Sanders, she and her husband donated over $A5000 to Gentry’s re-election.
Ms Schultz also alleged in her affidavit she saw colleagues were punished for not supporting the judge politically, or going to performances of her band, South of Cincy, according to the Enquirer.
Gentry reportedly used Snapchat to ask Ms Schultz to join her in group sex and seduce her husband, Ms Schultz confirmed to the Enquirer the accuracy of the complaints obtained by the local publication.
Gentry faces a disciplinary hearing, but a date has not been set.
It’s unclear whether Gentry has a lawyer who can comment on her behalf.
- With AP
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