Nelson County is facing yet another legal challenge after their sheriff and his chief deputy were indicted on criminal charges Wednesday.
Sheriff Ramon Pineiroa and Chief Deputy Brandon Bryan are charged with abuse of public trust, theft by deception, forgery, official misconduct and two violations of Kentucky state law.
It all stems from allegations Bryan sold seized cars to a car salesman friend in lieu of a public action. Attorney Thomas Clay believes Sheriff Ramon Pineiroa signed off on it.
“There’s a law that says forfeited property has to be announced and give the public an opportunity to read about it and come and bid on it,” Clay said. “It has to be a public auction.”
Clay represents two deputies, Ian Justice and Will Purdom, who he said spoke out against the sale and faced retaliation. That includes a meeting in February with Pineiroa, Clay and his clients. Clay alleges the sheriff abruptly canceled the meeting when the deputies arrived with representation.
“He says, ‘Well the meetings off. We’re not going to have a meeting,’” Clay said. “So he turns the lights out, slams the door shut and locks the door. And then he begins to go into a tirade against these deputies.”
Clay filed a lawsuit the same day. Justice, his client, has previously talked to a KSP detective about the allegations, leading to an investigation. Just weeks after filing his lawsuit as a whistleblower, his bosses were indicted.
“I didn’t know that return of this indictment was as close as it was,” Clay said. “Because we understood that KSP was conducting an investigation and there needed to be further steps taken, but obviously this investigation was further down the road than we anticipated because the indictment was returned almost immediately.”
The allegations have left an uneasy feeling throughout the county, with some telling WAVE it’s “sad” if true, in light of everything the community is already facing.
“When we elect an official to a position in the government or in the county or whatever, they’re here to serve the community and taking money from the community is not good,” Nelson County resident Samuel Johnson said.
Honorable Elise Spainhour has taken over as special judge over the case. She has served as a Family Court judge in Bullitt County for years. Commonwealth’s Attorney Amanda Troutman out of Bullitt County will serve as special prosecutor. She was recently elected to her office, having campaigned on the issue of “aggressively” prosecuting felonies.
The move to appoint a new judge and prosecutor to handle this case comes from an order by Chief Administrative Judge John Alexander.
Meanwhile, Clay said he is waiting for his clients’ names to be cleared.
“We’re asking for them to be vindicated, that what they did was right, and what the sheriff did against them was wrong, and there should be consequences for that,” Clay said.
WAVE reached out for comment from both Pineiroa and Bryan. The sheriff was not in the office when WAVE stopped by and the chief deputy did not have a comment.
