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It has been just under three years since a Michigan man was arrested and charged with assaulting a referee at an AAU basketball game in Paducah, leaving that official with serious injuries. Kenny Culp was brutally attacked on a Saturday night during an AAU tournament in Paducah. Kenyon Menifield, of Flint, Michigan, would be charged in connection to the attack.
A friend of Culp’s said on social media following the incident that Culp suffered a broken collarbone, a concussion, bleeding on the brain, and an eye injury. He was taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville for treatment.
Culp is a well-known basketball, softball, and baseball official in the First and Second Region and has also officiated games at Heritage Christian Academy.
Wednesday, a House committee of the Kentucky General Assembly approved legislation that would make it a misdemeanor to intimidate a sports official, with that law to include the range from youth leagues to college sports in the state. Under the proposed legislation, threatening an official or damaging their property could lead to up to a year in jail. The law would also apply to trying to damage an official’s business or finances.
The legislation, which was approved by theHouse Judiciary Committee, now goes on to the full state House.
Officials with the Kentucky High School Athletic Association have expressed their beliefs that the atmosphere that officials must deal with in many locations has led to a significant drop in the number of officials willing to work sporting events in the state.
