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Ballard Judge-Executive Pleads Not Guilty to Fraud

Ballard Judge-Executive Pleads Not Guilty to Fraud
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By Bill Hughes
Dec. 09, 2016 | WICKLIFFE, KY
By Bill Hughes Dec. 09, 2016 | 01:37 PM | WICKLIFFE, KY
Ballard County Judge-Executive Vickie Viniard was in court Thursday, facing charges against her in an indictment from last month.

Viniard appeared in Federal Court before Judge Lanny King and plead not guilty to wire fraud, bank fraud and making a false statement on a loan application. 

Ballard County Attorney Vicki Hayden told WestKentuckyStar when her office discovered evidence, she turned it over to the state Attorney General's office. 

Hayden said she knows a prosecutor has been assigned to the case, and someone is coming next week to talk to her and county magistrates, so there may be state charges filed, as well. Hayden said they would probably be for malfeasance or misfeasance in office.

Regardless of the outcome from the Federal charges, Viniard can stay in her job if she wants, drawing a salary and keeping her state retirement, unless the county tries to impeach her. 

If the state files charges, Viniard's financial future would depend on the verdict. If she is found guilty, she automatically loses her elected position and retirement, but if she is acquitted, she could stay and face possible impeachment from the county.

Hayden said she's sorry that this has happened, because Viniard is a nice person who has done a lot for the county. But she said the county has had financial issues for several years before the alleged frauds occurred, and Viniard didn't appear interested in finding out what was causing it. 

Hayden said, "You are responsible for what happens on your watch, and you can't just bury your head in the sand and say, 'I didn't know what was going on.' We're elected officials who are responsible to keep things out in the open for all to see - the good and the bad."

Viniard, her attorney, Gorman Bradley, and U.S. Attorney Nute Bonner will next appear before Judge Thomas B. Russell on December 13.
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