LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The indicted Nelson County sheriff and his chief deputy have strict orders on how to conduct office business.

Nelson County Sheriff Ramon Pineiroa and his Chief Deputy Brandon Bryan pleaded not guilty at their arraignment Thursday, part of a whistleblower lawsuit claiming the men punished a detective who reported a supervisor for breaking the law. The complaint alleges the sheriff and chief deputy illegally sold three vehicles from a Nelson County evidence warehouse.

A judge has imposed strict conditions on Pineiroa and Bryan, barring them from contacting any victims listed in the indictment. Additionally, the judge ordered all work assignments and professional communications in the case must go through their immediate supervisor.

"I disagree with it," said Mike Niemietz, Bryan's attorney. "Ultimately we agreed to it, with that particular condition is wholly unnecessary with this case. But it is what it is, and we'll abide by that."

The men are also prohibited from handling evidence related to the case or visiting the impound lot for work-related matters.

"That's what they are accusing them of," said Steve Romines, Pineiroa's attorney. "Vehicles that are seized in connection to criminal offenses that the Sheriff's Office somehow shouldn't be seizing them or shouldn't be holding them. That's their job and that's what they're doing."

The judge also ordered that Pineiroa and Bryan are to have no after hours contact and cannot discuss the case unless their attorneys are present.

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

"They are very apprehensive because they're in a very delicate and awkward position and they did not want to be in this position," said Thomas Clay, the attorney representing the detectives. But when KSP came to interview them, they felt like they had to tell them the truth and they did tell them the truth."

 
"I've been doing this for 50 years and I've never seen the circumstances that exist today among law enforcement," Clay said. "Good law enforcement officers are getting messed over. They're getting disciplined. They're getting terminated. Bad law enforcement officers seem to be getting away with it to the point where nobody wants to be in law enforcement anymore."

The case is scheduled to go to trial in October. Attorneys for the sheriff and chief deputy said they're confident both will be found not guilty.

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