Fayette County Commissioner Robert Horgan’s fellow commissioners voted 4-0 tonight to levy a $200 fine and record a resolution of public censure as punishment for violating the county’s ethics ordinance
in May 2009 for possessing a misdemeanor amount of marijuana in his personal vehicle.
Horgan declined the opportunity to make a statement, but Commission Chairman Jack Smith said the reason the board had not made any comment until now was because the board would be sitting in judgment if Horgan was determined to have violated the ethics ordinance.
Commissioner Eric Maxwell also made lengthy comments, noting again that he had initially asked Horgan to resign in the days following Horgan’s arrest by a sheriff’s deputy who had pulled him over on Stanley Road.
Horgan resisted multiple calls for his resignation and ultimately survived a recall lawsuit aimed at booting him from office. He later pled guilty earlier this year to misdemeanor marijuana possession and driving with an expired tag. Horgan was fined $800, sentenced to 12 months probation and ordered not to use any drugs or alcohol.
In August, Horgan was brought back to court for violating his probation by testing positive for alcohol and was ordered to provide 20 days community service and participate in 30 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings within 30 days.
Fayette resident Pat Hinchey, who co-filed the ethics complaint, said he was satisfied that justice had been served in the matter.
