FROM OUR ARCHIVES Grand Jury’s tapes in case against judge are missing - The Beattyville Enterprise, Thursday, November 17, 1983

Beattyville, KY ---Tapes of Grand Jury discussion about District Judge Billy L. Wilson’s indictment are missing, court officials said yesterday.

     Wilson, charged with official misconduct in the handling of a misdemeanor drug case, pleaded innocent yesterday in Beattyville.

     Special Prosecutor Truman Dehner said during yesterday’s hearing that the missing tapes are crucial in the Commonwealth’s case against the 23rd District Judge. 

     Special Judge Rebecca Overstreet said the situation is “most unusual” and “bothers me very much.”

     Ms. Overstreet said that, because of information included in the indictment is not specific enough for the prosecution without the tapes, the court is “in an unusual position.”

     Wilson’s attorney, Charles Coy of Richmond, said yesterday that the charges should be dropped. Coy also said the effectiveness of Wilson’s court has been impaired by the pending charges and stressed urgency of a speedy disposition.

     Ms. Overstreet gave Dehner 10 days to produce either the tapes or affidavits from the Lee County Grand Jury Foreman or anyone else who has seen the tapes.

     Wilson was indicted in September for allegedly mishandling a misdemeanor drug case against Phillip Block of Bethany, Ohio. Block, a nephew of former Gov. Julian Carroll, had been charged with possession of a controlled substance. The charge against Wilson deals with the transfer of evidence in the Block case.