Case involving write in candidate for Crittenden Judge Executive to go to court Wednesday

A case involving a write in candidate for Crittenden County Judge Executive will be heard in court Wednesday.

The Crittenden Press reported Tuesday the case involves Kent Withrow, who recently filed a write in candidacy for Crittenden Judge Executive. The case will be heard in Crittenden Circuit Court.
 

The case involves an Alford plea entered a year ago to a misdemeanor charge of falsely reporting an incident to law enforcement. Court records show Withrow entered the plea Sept. 3, 2025.   

Kentucky State Police charged Withrow in March of last year after investigating a claim Crittenden County Attorney Bart Frazer grabbed him by the neck during an encounter at the Crittenden County Office Complex in December, 2024.

Withrow also faced charges of criminal coercion, harassing communications and harassment without physical contact involving another man and woman. 

Court records show prosecution of those charges was deferred for two years as part of the September 2025 disposition.

Meanwhile, Withrow has reportedly recently used the social media identity “Jebediah Yoder” to criticize local officials, government and other individuals. 

Crittenden County Jailer Athena Hayes also has named Withrow and others as defendants in a pending defamation lawsuit.

Withrow previously sued the county over the awarding of a roofing contract, but Circuit Judge Daniel Heady dismissed that case.

 A separate open-records case filed by Withrow against the county concerning records related to the office-complex incident remains pending in Crittenden Circuit Court.

story/photo:  The Crittenden Press