Ballard County Attorney Vickie Hayden told West Kentucky Star the announcement was made during Tuesday's Fiscal Court meeting. She said the court voted Magistrate Bob Renfrow as interim Judge-Executive until Governor Matt Bevin appoints someone to the office.
Hayden said the Fiscal Court passed a resolution Tuesday recommending the appointment of Deputy Judge-Executive Todd Cooper to the position. She said several Ballard County officials will also be sending letters to Bevin, recommending the former sheriff for the job.
Viniard was indicted in November on counts of bank fraud, wire fraud, and making false statements on a loan application. According to the indictment, she and Ballard County Treasurer Belinda Foster took out around $450,000 in bank loans in total, pledging a $500,000 Ballard County certificate of deposit as collateral, all without authorization from the Ballard County Fiscal Court.
Foster pleaded guilty in December, but her sentencing has been postponed until after Viniard's trial. It is set to begin August 7 in Paducah, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Nute Bonner and a public corruption prosecutor presenting the case. Attorney Butch Bradley is representing Viniard.
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