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Case of Former Barren County Sheriff Goes Before Appeals Court

Former Barren County Sheriff Chris Eaton may learn this week if he will remain a free man or report to prison.  A federal appeals court will decide whether to  uphold witness tampering convictions against him. 

Eaton two other officers went on trial last year in U.S. District Court in Bowling Green.  They were accused of violating the civil rights of a suspect who claimed he was beaten while in handcuffs. 

His co-defendants were acquitted on all charges, but Eaton was found guilty on two federal counts of witness tampering, related to accusations that he directed two deputies to write false incident reports to the FBI. 

Eaton was sentenced to 18 months in prison, but U.S. District Judge Joseph McKinley allowed him to remain free while his conviction was under appeal. 

The former Barren County sheriff is seeking to have his convictions overturned or be granted a new trial.

The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in the case on Thursday.

Lisa is a Scottsville native and WKU alum. She has worked in radio as a news reporter and anchor for 18 years. Prior to joining WKU Public Radio, she most recently worked at WHAS in Louisville and WLAC in Nashville. She has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, including Best Reporter in Kentucky. Many of her stories have been heard on NPR.