JACKSON – Breathitt County Schools Superintendent Arch Turner was arrested by federal officers Friday on charges including vote buying and obstruction of justice.

A federal indictment was returned against the 65-year-old Turner on Thursday alleging that he conspired with others to buy votes in the November 2010 general election in Breathitt County, which included a race for United States Senate. According to the indictment, Turner withdrew money from his own bank account to finance the effort.

Turner is also alleged to have told FBI agents during an interview in October 2010 that he had not given money to any candidate for election purposes, and that the money he withdrew was for personal use only. According to the indictment, however, he had provided one candidate with money to buy votes, and had withdrawn money from his bank account for another candidate, also for vote buying purposes.

He is additionally accused of trying to persuade a person, during an FBI investigation, not to report his vote buying activity to law enforcement.

A date has not yet been made for Turner’s initial court appearance, though if he is convicted on all counts he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.