Berry conviction jolts city, raises questions
Lexington youth leader convicted on all 12 counts of sodomy
From, The Kentucky Citizen Digest, January/February, 2001.

Ron Berry, founder of Lexington’s Micro-City Government, was found guilty in March of 12 counts of sodomy that took place with six boys during the 1970s and ‘80s. The boys, now adults, were at that time 12 to 15 years old.

For many, the end of Berry’s trial was a relief — the culmination of years of accusation and speculation about his guilt or innocence. For others, the Louisville jury’s decision to convict Berry brought a sense of justice to an otherwise tragic and sick situation. But perhaps for all those individuals affected by the case, whether directly or indirectly, their deepest soul searching has just begun.

Berry is a man whose public persona exhibited generosity and concern. Micro-City Government, for which Berry also served as director, is a nonprofit mock city government he designed in 1969 to help poor youths by providing them with summer jobs, free lunches, sponsors and the opportunity to take part in a variety of other activities. However, testimonies during the case described a totally different side of Berry.

Charges were first filed against Berry in 1997. At that time he took leave from Micro-City Government, and Sean Edwards stepped in to run the programs.

Two prosecutions ended in mistrials, the second because a witness revealed inadmissible evidence. The large amount of publicity   resulted in the case being moved to Louisville, where jury found him guilty.

Last January four men accused Fayette’s Urban County Government of continuing to fund Berry’s program in spite of their knowledge of the sodomy allegations against him even before the criminal case went to court.

The case was settled out of court in favor of the men for $450,000 prior to Berry’s conviction. Questions are being raised as to why the city settled without any investigation. and before the guilty verdict was pronounced.  Did city leaders know he was guilty and settled quickly before a larger jury award was granted?  And, how many other victims will come forward and what will the cost for their suits be?

Another suit, similar in nature, is already being prepared. In light of Berry’s conviction, many believe it will end in favor of the seven men alleging similar abuse.

Because the city has chosen to be self-insured, the settlement from the first lawsuit and the damages from the suit being filed now, as well as any future suit, will come out of the taxpayers’ pockets

The prosecuting attorney, Ray Larson, expressed regret at the tragic and difficult nature of the case. He did not ask for the stiffest sentence possible, 60 years in prison. Rather, he asked the jury to take the charges seriously and to carefully consider the trust Berry, who placed himself in a position of role model for area youth, violated.

Berry’s defense attorney, William E. Johnson, says the large number of counts and the small number of accusers made it more difficult to make a case for him.

Linked to the Berry issue is the fight between the city of Lexington and God’s Center Foundation for the Lyric Theater. The theater first opened in 1948 and served the black community of Lexington. However, the building at the intersection of Third Street and Elm Tree Lane continues to become more and more delapidated.

Gayle Slaughter, president of the board of directors for God’s Center, argued in 1997 when Barry was first charged that the city should not be given control of the theater. She brought forth affidavits that indicated that several city leaders had, in fact, heard about Barry’s misconduct and yet continued to support Micro-City Government with tax money.

As for Berry, Fayette Circuit Court Judge Lewis Paisley is scheduled to give sentencing in late April. He may receive as little three years and be paroled, possibly, in one.
 
 

Key Family Foundation Contacts: Kent Ostrander, Executive Director Martin Cothran, Senior Associate Policy Analyst