Kentucky lawmakers will introduce a measure at the next General Assembly session in January that would make intimidating a sports official a misdemeanor offense.
The bill would also make assaulting an official a felony offense.
The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Randy Bridges, a Paducah Republican, stems from an incident in the spring where a basketball referee was punched and knocked unconscious at an AAU tournament in Paducah. The referee, Kenny Culp 61, suffered a broken collarbone, brain bleed and broken sinus cavity in the brutal attack by the team’s coach, 41-year-old Keyon Menifield. Menifield is from Flint, Michigan, and has been charged with assault.
Under the bill, an intimidation offense, a class A misdemeanor, would include threatening physical injury or property damage.
Butch Cope, with the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, says the organization loses about 100 officials each year in part because of the treatment of sports officials.
The bill’s cosponsors include Reps. Brandon Reed and Chad McCoy.
(Some information for this story was gathered from the Associated Press)
(Photo: Kenny Culp after being assaulted)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
