On Wednesday, August 21, 2024, Bowling Green Daily News reported that former Kentucky Judge Sue Carol Browning was found guilty of criminal mischief for slashing the tires of a vehicle parked on her property.

According to the article, Browning, who served as the 7th District Court Judge for Logan and Todd counties for 20 years before retiring in 2015, called Auburn Elementary School on November 16th last year to complain about several vehicles parked on her property located near the school. Browning owns a former church building called The Haven that was being used as a parking area by parents attending a Thanksgiving luncheon at the school.

During the call, Browning was described as being very upset and threatening to stab the tires of the vehicles unless they were moved. She spoke to attendance clerk Teresa Thompson, who apologized and asked for time to address the issue. Thompson contacted the school resource officer about the complaint. However, before any vehicles could be moved, Browning was seen by witnesses slashing the tires of Lee Arnold’s truck, which was one of the vehicles parked on her property, with a knife.

Arnold’s truck and several others had parked in the grassy area and paved lot outside The Haven building while he joined other parents for the family luncheon event at the school. Deputy Vince Brown Sr. arrived on the scene shortly after and witnessed Browning holding a knife near Arnold’s truck. Though he did not see her stab the tires directly, he heard a popping noise and hissing that indicated one of the tires had been punctured.

When confronted by Brown, Browning refused to drop the knife at first but eventually went inside The Haven. She was later detained and arrested by Logan County Sheriff’s Office deputies, who obtained a search warrant and recovered the knife used in the incident. Browning was initially charged with seven offenses, including a felony tampering with evidence charge, but a grand jury only indicted her on one count of second-degree criminal mischief.

At her trial in Logan District Court last week, a five-man, one-woman jury found Browning guilty on that sole charge. Although a 12-month jail sentence was possible, the jury opted to fine her $500 instead. Browning’s defense argued that the parked vehicles were trespassing and hampering access to her property, but the prosecution claimed she did not have the right to damage others’ property in response.

Browning reportedly chose not to testify at the trial. Lee Arnold, the owner of the truck whose tires were slashed, had to pay $620 to replace them so that he could return to work that day.

The case saw the unusual circumstance of Browning sitting at the defense table of the same courtroom where she had previously presided over other cases during her term as district court judge.

 

 

Source: Bowling Green Daily News