The Breathitt County judge-executive indicted earlier this month for using public money for personal use has been arrested again.
Jeff Noble was arrested Tuesday after an investigation found that he used nearly $1,000 in county funds to fuel his vehicle. He was charged with 16 counts of official misconduct and abuse of public trust, a felony.
According to media reports, the new charges accuse Noble of using $968.08 in public funds to purchase fuel from Jiffy Mart in Jackson for his personal vehicle on 16 occasions.
Noble was arrested and escorted out of the Breathitt County courthouse and lodged in Three Forks Jail in Lee County.
Earlier in August, a grand jury indicted Noble for abuse of public trust and theft by unlawful taking, both felonies, as well as official misconduct after he allegedly spent $704.96 of public funds on lumber for personal use. He then attempted to cover-up the malfeasance when authorities discovered the misuse of money.
Breathitt County is one of Kentucky’s and the nation’s poorest counties. In a report by 24/7 Wall Street earlier this year, Breathitt Co. was ranked the seventh worst place to live in the U.S., primarily based on its 36 percent poverty rate. Most households in the county earn less than $26,000 per year.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
