Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman's office found that the Bullitt County Attorney's Office violated the state's Open Records Act by failing to respond to a records request, according to a decision issued June 11.

Sharon Lynn submitted a request on April 27 seeking 13 categories of records related to the office's relationship with six named persons or entities. Having received no response from the County Attorney's Office after more than two weeks, Lynn filed an appeal with the Attorney General on May 14.

Under Kentucky law, public agencies must respond in writing to open records requests within five business days of receiving them. The Bullitt County Attorney's Office neither responded to Lynn's request nor disputed her claims when the matter was appealed, the decision states.

"Therefore, the Office must conclude that County Attorney's Office violated the Act when it did not respond to a request for records," the decision concluded.

The ruling marks another open records violation at the office. In February, Attorney General Coleman's office found the same office violated the Open Records Act when it failed to issue a timely response to a separate request from Kurt Wallace, with officials stating that his request "was inadvertently overlooked." Wallace later challenged the Fiscal Court on similar grounds and prevailed in that case as well.

The decision provides Lynn 30 days to appeal it through the appropriate circuit court under state law. The Attorney General's office will accept notice of any complaint at OAGAppeals@ky.gov.