Kentucky Democratic state Rep. Beverly Chester-Burton has been sentenced to home incarceration following her 2024 arrest on a charge of driving under the influence. Court records from Jefferson County District Court show that Chester-Burton, who represents the Shively area, entered an Alford plea on October 15 and received a sentence of 10 days of home incarceration. A separate charge of reckless driving was dismissed as part of the resolution.
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Under the terms of her sentence, Chester-Burton was granted work release, allowing her to continue attending legislative sessions and meetings in Frankfort while serving her home incarceration. This provision ensures that she can fulfill her duties as a state legislator without interruption during the sentencing period.
Her attorney, Krsna Tibbs, told the Lexington Herald-Leader that Chester-Burton’s Alford plea was entered in connection with a DUI charge and included a requirement that she undergo alcohol treatment. Tibbs explained that an Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain a claim of innocence while acknowledging that prosecutors could likely secure a conviction based on the available evidence and testimony.
Tibbs emphasized that Chester-Burton is not serving time in jail and faces no restrictions beyond the home incarceration requirement. He added that she will continue to meet all of her legislative obligations as usual, including participation in official business at the state capitol.
According to the 2024 arrest citation, police were initially dispatched to a domestic violence call when they encountered Chester-Burton’s vehicle in traffic. Officers reported that she had driven into oncoming traffic, stopped for approximately a minute, and caused another vehicle to maneuver around her before she repositioned her car, stopped in the roadway, and placed it in park. Officers noted the smell of alcohol when speaking with her, and during transport to jail, she reportedly made a remark downplaying the seriousness of the situation, according to the police report.[/read]