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Charges 'not likely' in Gov. Beshear effigy hanging

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Posted at 4:50 PM, May 26, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-26 19:25:45-04

(LEX 18) — After Gov. Andy Beshear was hanged in effigy over the weekend, some have posed a question: "Was it a crime?"

The Franklin County Commonwealth's Attorneys Office would have jurisdiction in a potential case, so LEX 18 reached out to their office.

Commonwealth's Attorney Larry Cleveland said he does not believe it violates any laws he can find.

"If there were a 'criminally ignorant' statute I would prosecute him under that, but unfortunately there is not," Cleveland added.

LEX 18 has also reached out to the County Attorney's Office in Franklin County to pose the same question as it relates to misdemeanors. The Office has not yet responded to the inquiry.

We asked Cleveland if he believed the County Attorney's Office would file charges, and he responded that it was 'not likely'.