def _execute_query(
            self,
            sqlQuery):
        """* execute query and trim results*

        **Key Arguments:**
            - ``sqlQuery`` -- the sql database query to grab low-resolution results.

        **Return:**
            - ``databaseRows`` -- the database rows found on HTM trixles with requested IDs
        """
        self.log.debug(
            'completed the ````_execute_query`` method')

        try:
            databaseRows = readquery(
                log=self.log,
                sqlQuery=sqlQuery,
                dbConn=self.dbConn
            )
        except Exception as e:
            if "Unknown column 'htm" in str(e):
                message = "Please add and populate the HTM columns to this database table BEFORE running any conesearches. You can use HMpTy to do this: http://hmpty.readthedocs.io/en/stable/"
                self.log.error(message)
                raise IOError(message)
            elif "Truncated incorrect DOUBLE value" in str(e) or "Truncated incorrect DECIMAL value" in str(e):
                databaseRows = readquery(
                    log=self.log,
                    sqlQuery=sqlQuery,
                    dbConn=self.dbConn,
                    quiet=True
                )
            else:
                print sqlQuery
                raise e

        if self.distinct and (self.columns != "*" and (self.raCol.lower() not in self.columns.lower() or self.decCol.lower() not in self.columns.lower())):
            distinctRows = []
            theseKeys = []
            for r in databaseRows:
                constraintKey = ""
                for k, v in r.iteritems():
                    if k.lower() != self.raCol.lower() and k.lower() != self.decCol.lower():
                        constraintKey += str(v)
                if self.raCol.lower() in self.columns.lower():
                    constraintKey += str(databaseRows[self.raCol])
                if self.decCol.lower() in self.columns.lower():
                    constraintKey += str(databaseRows[self.decCol])
                if constraintKey not in theseKeys:
                    theseKeys.append(constraintKey)
                    distinctRows.append(r)
            databaseRows = distinctRows

        self.log.debug(
            'completed the ``_execute_query`` method')
        return databaseRows