LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Nelson County Sheriff Ramon Pineiora and Chief Deputy Brandon Bryan have been indicted on multiple charges, including abuse of public trust, theft by deception, and official misconduct. Additionally, Bryan faces a charge of forgery in connection with alleged illegal activities tied to the sheriff’s office.
The indictments stem from a whistleblower lawsuit filed by two detectives, Ian Justice and Will Purdom, who claim they were retaliated against after reporting Bryan for misconduct. The detectives, both members of the Nelson County Drug Task Force, allege that Bryan illegally sold three vehicles from an evidence warehouse, bypassing the usual public auction process and selling them privately at prices well below market value.
According to court documents, Justice reported the vehicle sales to the Kentucky State Police, which launched an investigation into the matter. In response to the report, Sheriff Pineiora allegedly took punitive actions against the detectives, including removing them from their positions on the task force and restricting their overtime opportunities. The detectives are now suing for damages, including lost wages, due to what they describe as unlawful retaliation.
Thomas Clay, the attorney representing the detectives, emphasized the difficult position his clients now find themselves in. “They are very apprehensive, because they’re in a very delicate and awkward position,” Clay said. “They did not want to be in this position, but when Kentucky State Police came to interview them, they felt like they had to tell them the truth—and they did tell them the truth.”
Clay, who has been practicing law for five decades, expressed his concern about the broader implications for law enforcement in the region. “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,” he said.
Pineiora and Bryan are set to appear in Nelson County Circuit Court on March 20 at 2 p.m. for their arraignment. Bond will be determined during the court appearance.
The ongoing investigation and lawsuit continue to shed light on serious allegations of corruption within the sheriff’s office, raising questions about accountability and the treatment of whistleblowers in law enforcement.
