A man accused of manslaughter in the death of former McCracken County Judge-Executive Van Newberry was arrested this morning in Lyon County.
According to a Kentucky State Police news release, about 10:30 a.m. troopers arrested Willie G. Holsapple, 68, of Paducah, on a McCracken County warrant on contempt of court after he was allegedly discovered driving this weekend in Lyon County.
KSP troopers say Holsapple was pulled over July 2 driving a pickup in Lyon County and cited for not wearing a seat belt. Additional investigation revealed Holsapple’s license had been suspended. He is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. July 12 in Lyon County District Court on the charges.
Holsapple stands accused of second-degree manslaughter and unsworn falsifcation to authorities after a March McCracken County grand jury indictment. Charges stem from Newberry’s death in October 2016, after police say Holsapple struck and killed the former county official as he rode his bicycle on Cairo Road in McCracken County.
According to the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, Holsapple had been involved in previous accidents stemming from a history of severe vision impairment at the time of the incident. Police say Holsapple had been advised he should not be driving. Investigators also say evidence suggested Newberry had not veered into the path of the vehicle. Holsapple was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident, according to MCSO.
He was ordered not to operate a motor vehicle as a condition of his bond, and the Kentucky Medical Review Board has since revoked his license according to police. He allegedly violated that bond condition with his traffic citation this weekend.
Holsapple was turned over to McCracken County deputies upon his Tuesday arrest and taken to McCracken County Jail, where he was held pending the results of a bond revocation hearing.