CAMPBELL COUNTY, Ky. — A Northern Kentucky family court judge is defending her job to the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission.

The commission has accused Kenton County Judge Dawn Gentry of nine allegations, including:

• Coercing people to participate in her campaign;
• Retaliating against those who failed to support her campaign;
• Approving false timesheets and storing and consuming alcoholic drinks;
• Retaliating against school officials regarding filings related to neglect and abuse cases;
• Holding pre-trial hearings with those who support gentry and private attorneys were left out;
• Harassment and retaliation against an employee;
• Inappropriate hiring and relationship with a colleague; 
• Hiring and appointing personal friends on court staff based on no merit; and,
• Failing to disclose to the commission about the firings of staff members.

Dawn Gentry is a family court judge in Kenton County.

 Gentry has denied eight of those allegations except for the one regarding timesheets, and Gentry said she has since changed that procedure. Gentry also said she will no longer play the guitar in her office, a subcount under the third allegation.

Numerous witnesses testified Wednesday in a Campbell County courtroom, including Gentry’s secretary Laura Aubrey. 

The attorney asked Aubrey, “There’s been an allegation in this case that you, and the judge, and a man named Steven Penrose were conducting some kind of sexual activity in an office together in the chambers of Judge Gentry. Have you heard that allegation before?”

Aubrey replied, “I’ve heard it. It has haunted me actually, yes.”

However, Aubrey said there's no truth to the allegation.

During her testimony, Aubrey also said nobody in the commission talked to her about Judge Genty's conduct during the investigation.

Aubrey also told the commission about two instances where Gentry’s staff “played pranks“ by making noises and banging chairs.

The attorney asked if they were making any noises that may have sounded sexual to a bystander, to which Aubrey said, "No."

After the hearing concluded, an executive secretary for the judicial commission said a decision on the outcome could come within two weeks.