BARDSTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) -- The small town of Bardstown is once again at the center of controversy as allegations of official misconduct and abuse of public trust shake the local law enforcement community.

Nelson County Sheriff Ramon Pineiora and Chief Deputy Brandon Bryan are both under indictment for allegedly selling three vehicles that were being held as evidence in a secured warehouse.

Residents of Bardstown are expressing mixed emotions regarding the situation. Some, like Minnie Stults, claim corruption in law enforcement has been an ongoing issue in the area. 

"We have been praying and we know full well there is a lot of corruption in law enforcement in Bardstown — a lot of good, let me tell ya — but yeah, we have been praying for all the corruption to be dispersed," she said.

Another resident, Tony Green, echoed Stults sentiments, expressing frustration over what they see as a longstanding problem.

"I think that we have problems in Bardstown," he said. "We have had problems forever in Bardstown, and this is not the first time it has happened."

Nelson County Indictment Car

One of the vehicle owners affected by the alleged misconduct by the the Nelson County sheriff and his chief deputy provided this picture of his car.

One of the vehicle owners affected by the alleged misconduct provided a picture of his car to WDRB but declined to comment further.

Pineiora has declined requests for interviews, but defense attorney Steve Romines, who is representing Pineiora, issued a written statement defending his actions:

"The evidence is clear that Sheriff Pineiora followed all processes appropriately, and every dollar can be traced to the benefit of the citizens of Nelson County," Romines said. "We look forward to a quick trial in order to put a quick end to these baseless allegations."

The scandal deepened when two Nelson County detectives came forward with allegations that they faced retaliation for exposing misconduct. They claim they were denied overtime and targeted for speaking out.

The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office responded to those allegations in a separate statement: "The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office denies the allegations of wrongdoing brought by the detectives and is committed to defending the lawsuit accordingly."

The department further clarified that overtime funding was tied to federal funds that had since been withdrawn, possibly explaining the cuts in compensation.

Pineiora and Bryan are scheduled to appear in court March 20. While Pineiora has spoken through legal representation, Bryan has remained silent on the matter.

As Bardstown residents wait for the events unfold, many are left questioning the integrity of their local law enforcement and hoping for justice to prevail in the coming trial.

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