Lebanon man charged with sodomizing inmate

NOEL

Calen McKinney
Landmark News Service

A Lebanon resident and former employee of the Taylor County Detention Center has been arrested and charged with sodomizing an inmate.
According to a Campbellsville Police report, officers began an investigation on Feb. 11, after receiving a complaint of possible sexual misconduct between an inmate and a detention center deputy.
After an investigation, Campbellsville Police Detective Ben Riggs arrested Brandon Neil Noel, 33, of 146 E. Main St. in Lebanon, on Monday, Feb. 11, at 10 a.m. at the Campbellsville Police Department.
According to court records, Noel allegedly allowed a female inmate to perform oral sex on him while he was employed as a deputy.
Records state that Noel also allegedly admitted to touching the inmate and taking naked photos of her on his cell phone.
According to a report from Taylor County Jailer Hack Marcum’s office, the inmate wrote on Feb. 7 in an outgoing letter that she was having an affair with Noel. Jail staff members reviewed the letter during routine inspection, confiscated it and contacted police.
The report states that Noel was told about the allegations the same day and resigned his position.
Noel was charged with 19 counts of official misconduct, which is a misdemeanor offense, and two counts of third-degree sodomy, which is a Class D felony punishable by as much as five years in prison each.
Noel is being housed at the Russell County Detention Center. According to their records, no bond was set.
Noel was scheduled to be arraigned in Taylor District Court on Wednesday, which was after press time.