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Nighbert pleads guilty to federal drug trafficking, burglary charges
Posted On 08 Jul 2010
Former Williamsburg Police Officer Brad Nighbert is facing up to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty Wednesday to conspiring to distribute Oxycodone and conspiring to burglarize a drug store.
Nighbert, 32, pleaded guilty to the charges in U.S. District Court in London. During the proceedings, he told U.S. District Court Judge Gregory VanTatenhove, he has had problems in the past with drug addiction that led him to become involved in the conspiracy.
Under federal law, the conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of up to $1 million.
The conspiracy to burglarize a drug store carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and up to a $500,000 fine.
Vantatenhove reminded Nighbert that there will be a pre-sentence report which will include a recommended sentencing range, the court is not bound by that and if the judge decided to sentence Nighbert above the recommendation, he may not withdraw his guilty plea because of that.
Nightbert will return to court Nov. 4 for formal sentencing.
"Addiction knows no class," Nighbert’s attorney Luke Morgan, said after the hearing. "It can grab a person and drag them down.
Nighbert’s father, William, was in the courtroom during the hearing, but did not speak afterward.
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Book’em Danno, Take’em All Down !!
Get Real! When a police officer breaks the law he is supposed to enforce he is a dirty cop, there is no other worse criminal than that of a cop who breaks the law. Nighbert did this while he was on duty, and he needs to answer for it. I agree that he shouldn’t get sentenced to 30 years but he should have to answer for it. He is just another example of the drug click that is part of whitley county law enforcement. look at the history that’s been going on with the Sheriff and you can realize that Nighbert was involved with that group. Only difference is that Nighbert got caught, the others are still trying to figure a way out.
I HATE TO HEAR ABOUT THIS CASE BECAUSE I HONESTLY BELIEVE BRAD IS A GOOD MAN. HE HAS ARRESTED ME BEFORE BUT I DESERVED IT I BELIEVE HE MADE A BAD CHOICE AND COULDNT ESCAPE IT. WHEN I THINK ABOUT FOLKS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY AND FAILED DUE TO ADDICTION HE ALWAYS COMES TO MIND BUT THE TRUTH IS HE MADE A MISTAKE AND I DONT THINK HE DESERVES THIRTY YRS FOR IT I THINK BY LOCKING HIM UP WE ARE MAKING A HUGE MISTAKE AND ITS A SHAME WHY CANT WE GIVE THIS MAN TREATMENT AND HELP HIM TO BECOME A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY LIKE HE COULD BE I MEAN IN WHITLEY CO WE GIVE KILLERS A CHANCE WHY NOT A MAN LIKE HIM