Coal lobbyist pleads guilty in domestic case
By John Cheves – jcheves@herald-leader.com
Bill Caylor at the Lexington-Fayette Detention Center on May 10, 2009.
Bill Caylor, president of the Kentucky Coal Association, pleaded guilty in Fayette District Court on Friday to a misdemeanor charge of violating an emergency protective order by harassing his wife.
Judge Julie Muth Goodman agreed to let Caylor enter a diversion program, so in exchange for community service and no further violations of the law, Caylor’s criminal record will be expunged in coming months. Goodman set Caylor’s next court date for Nov. 6.
Caylor, 60, is the longtime chief lobbyist and spokesman for Kentucky’s coal industry, a familiar face at the state Capitol.
His wife Geaunita Caylor alleged May 8 in a court petition that Bill Caylor has physically and emotionally abused her for years. On May 7, she said, her husband approached her table in a restaurant and dragged her by the arm into the parking lot, where he yelled at her until police were called.
The emergency protective order prohibited Bill Caylor from coming near his wife or communicating with her. Lexington police arrested him May 10 when he admitted to violating the order by calling her repeatedly and showing up where she lived to try to talk to her through the door.
In an interview Thursday, Bill Caylor denied being violent with his wife.
Filed Under: KY Courts • State Government
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Oh how the mighty have fallen.
Oh how the mighty have fallen. . . .What does that mean??? Why is this necessary to put in the NEWS paper??? How would the Herald-Leader explain if their article sent Mr. Caylor over the edge and he killed his wife because if this article?? This kind of situation is hard enough for everyone without it being plastered in the paper. Mr. Caylor is a good person and loved his wife very much. He just needs help dealing with the situation. This didn’t help anything! HIs wife and children don’t deserve this.
Karma!!!
Egads, when I read yesterday’s blip on this story, I didn’t realize it was this bad. He abused this woman for years??? Dragged her out of a restaurant? And even after that, he kept calling and came by her home? Put this guy in jail! Oh, and the earlier commenter who didn’t want to see anyone read about this, do you really think his wife was put in more danger because of the article??? The newspaper might push him ‘over the edge’? He’s already over the edge. And you really think he just ‘needs a little help’??? Bull. He needs to be in custody. If he weren’t who he is, he would already be in custody. So this weekend all the abusers can sneer at their wives and say “All they’ll do to me is put me on diversion, and you’ll still be afraid for your life, wife!” And all those abusers will be right. Will this beating on women with impunity never end?
I agree with “iknow” because the truth is that Bill is a very good person. He is diplomatic and kind not to mention having a heart the size of Texas. This article is completely inappropriate. A private matter that is being plastered all over the newspaper is evidence that neither good judgment, nor diplomacy is being exercised.
For those of you casting stones, shame on you. Sadly, it seems that human nature can be ugly far too often. To delight in the misfortune of others is not behavior to pride oneself in.
Bill Caylor is not over the edge, he is a man that still loved/loves his wife. He may have broken the violation but it wasn’t because he was threatening his wife, he merely wanted to communicate in order to try and save his marriage.
He’s a great guy that is in the midst of an ugly time. He will ultimately be fine, because he is a strong man with a lot of great friends that know the full truth.
No one said Bill Caylor is a bad person, but apparently Mr Caylor needs help dealing with women. Good people do not abuse or yell at women. Bill Caylor has a public job and therefore is in the public eye, therefore the media has a responsibility to follow what he does and does not do. That is the job of the media to report news and I hope that never changes in this country. It should scare everyone if it does.
It is my hope that perhaps Caylor can now get the help that he needs to control his anger and abusive behavior, much like drug addicts much admit an addiction before they can be cured.
Interesting comments. It really shows the character of some people and speaks volumes about this newspaper. Yes, public figures are news, but how far do you take it. there are 2 sides to every story and we probably will never know the full story here and shouldn’t. Many of us out there wish both Bill and G the best in the future.