More than 150 miles from the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Robert Arnold sits behind bars in Kentucky waiting for his day in federal court on corruption charges.
Since his incarceration, Arnold has kept the powers as Rutherford County Sheriff but an ouster lawsuit aims to change that. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a dozen Rutherford County residents who want Arnold out as sheriff.
Legal Analyst Nick Leonardo said its the start of what could be a very long process. "It could take 18 months through the legal process for that to occur," Leonardo said.
The ouster suit outlines the federal case in which Arnold is alleged to have illegally profited from the sale of jail-cigs to inmates, it also outlines a judge's recent decision to keep him behind bars until the federal case along with domestic violence charges.
Arnold, however said he's still in charge from his jail cell and talks every day with his administrators in Rutherford County.
"At this point if the sheriff is detained until his trial in February I don't think it will be possible for the sheriff to execute the duties of his office," Rutherford County District Attorney Jennings Jones said.
Arnold's attorney filed an appeal to release him from jail, however documents filed late last week by prosecutors claim Arnold is manipulating his wife by lying. In a letter he told her there was a hit out on him in jail, he later admitted he made it up.
