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Brief
Rep. Beverly Chester-Burton, D-Shively, speaking during a legislative committee meeting, Jan. 18, 2024. (LRC Public Information)
LOUISVILLE —?Kentucky state Rep. Beverly Chester-Burton pleaded not guilty to charges of reckless driving and driving under the influence in Jefferson County District Court Friday morning.?
The 62-year-old Democratic lawmaker from Shivley was arrested by local police early Tuesday. According to the arrest citation, she refused to take a field sobriety test and a preliminary breath test after officers asked.?
An attorney representing Chester-Burton appeared in court Friday morning and entered the not guilty plea on her behalf. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for November.?
Chester-Burton was previously arrested for a DUI in 2020 after falling asleep in a drive-through line at a White Castle while she was mayor of Shivley. She later pled guilty, according to court records.?
She began her first term in the House in 2023. She represents the 44th House District, which includes a western part of Jefferson County.?
Chester-Burton won her Democratic primary earlier this year. No Republican challengers filed to run against her.?
House Democratic Caucus leaders Reps. Derrick Graham, Cherlynn Stevenson and Rachel Roberts released a statement Tuesday after Chester-Burton’s arrest: “While we do not yet have details, we are very concerned about the charges facing Rep. Chester-Burton. Without knowing more information, we are unable to comment further at this time.”?
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McKenna Horsley
McKenna Horsley covers state politics for the Kentucky Lantern. She previously worked for newspapers in Huntington, West Virginia, and Frankfort, Kentucky. She is from northeastern Kentucky.
Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
