By Ray King
A special prosecutor has been appointed to investigate allegations against Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson that stemmed from findings from an audit of the 2023 Jefferson County budget.
According to a court issue signed Friday by Circuit Judge Rob Wyatt Jr., Senior Assistant Attorney General Jenna Sherrill “to exercise all powers and responsibilities of the district 11-W Prosecuting Attorney in the above referenced investigation and possible prosecutions arising therefrom.”
Wyatt signed the order as Administrative Judge for the District and after Prosecutor Coordinator Bob McMahon advised him that Sherrill would accept the assignment.
At a meeting in early December, the Legislative Audit Committee first voted to defer talking about the county audit until May but changed their mind after a Republican Senator from Benton, Kim Hammer, asked to revisit the audit and the county rescinded their earlier vote.
Among the allegations were solar panels that were bought but never installed, issues with equipment and vehicles, proper bidding procedures not followed, 34 untraceable phone lines, back to back invoices for tree trimming, and records for lease equipment not properly filled out.
County Judge Gerald Robinson did not attend that meeting, citing a conflict in his schedule. However, Justice of the Peace Lloyd Franklin Jr., who has been a frequent critic of Robinson was there to point out what he said were things Robinson did or did not do that were improper.
Franklin lost his bid for reelection and will leave the Quorum Court Dec. 31.
