Former jail transport officer released from jail following arrest on federal drug charges

One of the three men facing federal charges of distributing illegal drugs with connections to former Williamsburg Police Officer Brad Nighbert has been released from custody while awaiting trial.

Gregory Keith Smith, 55, was scheduled for a detention hearing Thursday in U.S. District Court in London. Prior to the start of the hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney William Samuel Dotson told U.S. Magistrate Judge Hanley Ingram he was withdrawing the motion for detention so long as Smith agreed to abide by a series of conditions set out in the report from probation and parole.
Ingram then went through the conditions with Smith.

They include:

• Smith must not violate any federal, state or local laws and must appear in court as directed

• Smith must report to the U.S. Probation Office as directed

• Smith may not travel outside the confines of the area served by U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky

• Smith must have no contact with any victims or witnesses in the case

• Smith may not use or possess any firearms, drugs or alcohol and must submit to testing for drugs and alcohol as required by probation and parole officers

• Smith must report any contact with law enforcement to probation and parole

• Smith must notify probation and parole of any prescriptions he is taking or any new prescriptions doctors prescribe.

"If you don’t abide by these conditions, you status can be revoked," Ingram warned Smith.

In addition, Ingram advised Smith that if he commits another federal offence while on pretrial release, he will could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison in addition to any sentence he receives and that if he fails to appear for any of his court dates, he could be sentenced to up to 10 more years in prison in addition to any sentenced he receives.

When asked if he understood the conditions and possible penalties for any violations, Smith replied, "yes, sir."

Jerry Bunch, 58 and Clarence King, 55, the other two defendants, were in court Tuesday for their detention hearings.
Dotson said Ingram would issue a written ruling for each case. As of Thursday afternoon, no rulings had been issued and the men remain in custody.

Bunch is facing 10 counts of distributing and conspiring to distribute cocaine, Oxycodone and Hydrocodone.

Smith is facing four counts of distributing Oxycodone pills.

King was indicted for conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone, distributing Oxycodone, possession of Oxycodone and distribution of Hydrocodone.

The men are scheduled to go to trial Jan. 10 in U.S. District Court in London.