Kentucky sheriff, chief deputy indicted after whistleblower lawsuit: What we know

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (FOX 56) — Nearly a month after being named in a whistleblower lawsuit, the Nelson County sheriff and his chief deputy were indicted by a grand jury.

In February, Sheriff Ramon Pineiora and Chief Deputy Brandon Bryan were named in a lawsuit that claimed two sheriff’s deputies were allegedly retaliated against after reporting a supervisor for breaking the law.

Court documents allege that Bryan privately sold three vehicles, awarded to the office through drug forfeiture, from a Nelson County evidence warehouse despite Kentucky law requiring them to be sold in a public auction.

The buyer reportedly found fentanyl and other drugs inside the vehicles. Court documents claim that Bryan told the buyer to throw them in the trash.

A deputy reported the illegal sale to the sheriff and Kentucky State Police Drug Enforcement, Special Investigations (DESI), who began investigating the reported private sale. KSP DESI advised that Pineiora and Bryan would be advised in around two weeks.

Around that time, the reporting deputy was allegedly pulled from the process of joining a DEA division task force and forbidden from working any overtime, alongside another deputy who supported his decision to report the incident.

Both deputies were suing for damages, including lost wages. In a subsequent court filing, Pineiora denied the allegations.

On Wednesday, a grand jury indicted the sheriff and chief deputy.

Bryan has been indicted on the following charges:

• Abuse of public trust, greater than $10,000 but less than $100,000
• Two counts of theft by deception—include cold checks $10,000 or more
• Two counts of second-degree forgery
• First-degree official misconduct
• Two counts of violation of KRS 61.102

An indictment shows Pineiora faces the following charges:

• Abuse of public trust, greater than $10,000 but less than $100,000
• Two counts of theft by deception—include cold checks $10,000 or more
• First-degree official misconduct
• Two counts of violation of KRS 61.102

Neither are currently booked in the Nelson County Detention Center.

According to the sheriff’s office, Pineiora began his career with the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office in 2006 and was named Sheriff of the Year in 2024.