Arguments became heated as Commonwealth’s Attorney Amanda Troutman argued with defense attorneys for Sheriff Ramon Peineroa and Deputy Chief Brandon Bryan over bond conditions at their arraignment Thursday.
Pineiroa and Bryan are charged with abuse of public trust, theft by deception, forgery, official misconduct and two violations of Kentucky state law. They are accused of selling seized cars to unauthorized buyers instead of putting them up for public auction.
Troutman argued that the men should not be allowed to contact each other to prevent them from discussing the case.
Troutman also requested that the men not be allowed to access the Nelson County Sheriff’s Department evidence room and not be allowed to have weapons outside of working hours.
The defense argued the conditions would prevent the men from doing their jobs.
The judge sided with the defense but did order the men to have no access to the impound lot where the cars are being held. They were also ordered to have no contact with the two whistleblowers in the case, both deputies with the department, who say they reported Bryan for selling the vehicles and faced retaliation.
Video obtained from the Nelson County Sheriff’s Department shows an incident where the men, Ian Justice and Will Purdom, tried to meet with Pineiroa with their attorney.
The video is silent, but the men say the sheriff stormed out of the meeting, screamed profanities at them, and threatened to restrict their overtime.
Both attorneys for Pineiroa and Bryan say they are confident both men will be exonerated at trial and insist there was no misconduct.
The next pre-trial hearing for Pineiroa and Bryan is scheduled in June. Their trial is scheduled to start in October.
Source: WAVE
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