Ex-Ky. officials sent to fed prison in vote scheme

FRANKFORT, Ky. – An ex-school superintendent and former county clerk are facing decades in federal prison for conspiring with a former judge and others to gain power and control politics in an eastern Kentucky county.

Former Clay County School Superintendent Douglas C. Adams was sentenced Wednesday to more than 24 years and 47-year-old Freddy Thompson to about 12.

The men were part of a group of eight officials convicted in March of racketeering, money laundering and voter fraud in the 2002, 2004 and 2006 elections. Prosecutors say the group recruited a slate of candidates to run for certain offices and then tried to rig elections in their favor.

Ex-judge R. Cletus Maricle, who prosecutors say was one of the leaders, is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday.