Embattled attorney Ronnie Goldy denies recalling explicit image requests in new testimony

WINCHESTER ― An embattled commonwealth’s attorney accused of trading favors with a defendant in exchange for nude images of her swore under oath Friday he didn’t remember any of the 230 Facebook messages they allegedly exchanged.

In a hearing on whether Ronnie Goldy Jr. should be temporarily suspended from practicing law because he poses a danger to the public, he did not deny he sent the messages to Missy Helton or that she returned them ― only that he had no recollection of ever seeing them.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Ronnie Goldy

Goldy, whose office prosecutes in Bath, Menifee, Montgomery and Rowan counties, gave the same answer when asked about more than a dozen messages by Chief Bar Counsel Jane Herrick.

Helton, however, confirmed the authenticity of the messages and said Goldy pressed her for the images over a five-year period in exchange for help in court.

She also testified that she and Goldy engaged in sexual relations, the first time that allegation has been made.

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The Courier Journal reported in July that the messages, which emerged in an unrelated case, appeared to show Goldy told Helton if she sent him the images, he would talk to judges about continuing her cases and setting aside warrants.

They also showed Goldy told her he had delivered on some of those promises.

Facebook messages between Commonwealth’s Attorney Ronny Goldy and a defendant.

In court Friday, Goldy suggested the messages had been altered or modified, but cell phone forensic examiner Dan Jackman, a former Louisville Metro Police officer who also served six years on the FBI’s National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force, said there was no evidence of tampering.

Goldy said the only time he asked Helton for video was when she called him and said she had one showing evidence of drug trafficking, but Helton denied ever mentioning it.

Herrick, the chief bar counsel, asked him how he could remember that phone call yet not the Facebook messages and he said, “That is not something you would forget.”

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Goldy seemed to score points when he cited a recent news article in the Mount Sterling Advocate in which Helton told a reporter that they were just friends and that Goldy did nothing wrong. Helton testified that wasn’t true.

“Where I come from, you don’t tell on people,” she said.

When Goldy pointed out that none of the Facebook messages explicitly asked for nude photos, she replied, “Do you think he was asking for photos of my cat?”

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In other testimony that appeared to damage Goldy’s credibility, Circuit Judge David Barber cited a 2020 case where Helton appeared in his courtroom trying to retrieve a car that had been seized by police. He said when he told Helton she would have to pay towing fees, “she became indignant and said, ‘I’ll call Ronnie.'”

Barber said it was strange she would say that during a court hearing and that he later asked Goldy about it.

“He said they were related,” Barber said.

Goldy testified Friday that they are not related by blood or marriage. Helton also denied they are related.

Retired Judge Jean Chenault Logue, who presided over the hearing, has 30 days to report her findings and recommendations to the Kentucky Supreme Court.

An inquiry commission already has initiated charges that could result in permanent sanctions up to disbarment.

The Kentucky Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Association expelled Goldy from its membership in August.

Andrew Wolfson: 502-582-7189; awolfson@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @adwolfson.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky prosecutor denies recalling explicit image request in court