By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
A preliminary hearing that had been set for Friday for a former Northern Kentucky district judge facing numerous human trafficking charges was canceled.
The hearing for Timothy Nolan, 70, of California, Ky., ended up being unnecessary because a grand jury had already issued an indictment in Campbell County Circuit Court.
The grand jury charged Nolan with nine felony and two misdemeanor counts, according to Attorney General Andy Beshear’s office.
The felonies include human trafficking with a person under age 18, five counts of human trafficking with adults, first-degree rape, unlawful transaction with a minor (second degree) and tampering with a witness.
There were also misdemeanor charges of unlawful transaction with a minor (third degree) and one count of prostitution.
The attorney general’s office said an arrest warrant was sought for Nolan on April 20 by Campbell County Police for the alleged crimes that occurred in August 2016.
Special Campbell District Judge Elizabeth Chandler arraigned Nolan on the charges on April 21.
Beshear’s Special Prosecutions Division is handling the case and are responsible for assisting local prosecutors in complex or sensitive cases, as well as handling cases where local prosecutors have recused themselves.
Nolan was elected to the Campbell County School Board in November, but news reports indicate he has resigned.
Court records do not indicate when Nolan will be arraigned in Campbell Circuit Court.
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The Tribune received a statement from Nolan’s attorneys on Friday that he had resigned from the seat he won in November on the Campbell County school board.
Grubbs Rickert Landry law firm’s statement called the charges “baseless and setup”and said he is “determined to clear his good name.”
