Former sheriff pleads guilty in Clark County-Two council members charged
Jamey Noel, former Clark County Sheriff, pleaded guilty to 27 felony counts in front of Judge Larry Medlock and a host of media cameras in a Clark County courtroom on Monday, August 26.
The investigation into the felonies began almost a year ago and Noel was arrested in November of 2023. Since that arrest, multiple leads quickly found the defendant in more hot water than many suspected.
Noel, who was once a respected trooper, two-term sheriff, and head of the Republican Party, Ninth District GOP, and Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association aka New Chapel EMS, had a long fall from grace as investigators found his lifestyle was made up of theft and fraud in the worst way.
The multiple counts of Theft, Obstruction of Justice, Official Misconduct, Tax Evasion, Corrupt Business Influence, and Money Laundering were what Noel pled guilty to on Monday.
Ripley County Prosecutor Ric Hertel was the special prosecutor in the case that has the Indiana State Police calling it the biggest corruption case in public history in the state. At a press conference after the hearing on Monday, Hertel noted Judge Medlock will now take the guilty plea under advisement. He praised the detectives and cautioned, “The job’s not finished.” He noted if additional crimes come to light, the prosecution will look at more charges.
Just after Noel pled guilty two more people were formally charged with Conflict of Interest in the matter, which is a level 6 felony. They are John Miller, who is a current Councilmember in the county and police officer for Clarksville; Brittney Ferree, who is a former councilwoman and mother of a child between her and Noel. These charges stem from investigations revealing they voted in a certain way that gained them trips, food, and more in the scheme Noel was perpetrating. They both pled not guilty on Monday.
In the plea agreement offered, a restitution to Utica Volunteer Firefighters Association in the amount of $2,870,924.00, restitution to the Clark County Sheriff’s Department in the amount of $61,190.77, and to the Indiana Department of Revenue in the amount of $173,155.07 was made. Also $35,245.60 to the Indiana State Police for the costs associated with the storage of evidence in this case (include multiple vehicles, etc.).
Judge Medlock wanted to make sure that all victims in this case would be compensated. Before he accepts the plea, he noted, “I need EMS workers who have lost their jobs, paramedics that are not out there saving people because the money was diverted for pleasures. I want to hear from people that don’t have $800 belts. I want to hear from taxpayers that have been aggrieved by the actions of this individual.”
A resident of the area told The Versailles Republican that’s what some people are worried about – whether the monetary compensation will go deep enough. He also noted that some people are concerned that Governor Eric Holcomb might pardon Noel before he’s out of office. He said people are talking in the area, asking a lot of questions even after this plea agreement was offered. (We are not naming this source because he is employed with an entity close to the situation).
“It sparked a lot of controversy within the community – some people believed in Noel, and others definitely could see something was wrong,” the source noted.
Hertel has created a form on their website (Ripley County Prosecutor’s Office) for victims of Noel to fill out if they believe they were a victim. Hertel explained, “This saves his office (staff) from having to take and explain the calls and the process.”
Sentencing is expected to take a full day as many people will testify. Noel is looking at 15 years with three suspended to probation in a state prison. When asked if that was a low sentence for all the crimes Noel admitted guilt to, Hertel said it was actually on the upper end. He explained how the law works, and noted many of the charges run concurrently, not consecutively. It’s the law, which he says is sometimes not so black and white. He said some legal scholars might say seven years was on the high end or 20 years. He also noted that the Ghost Employment charges merged with the other counts. Either way, Hertel said an agreement to 15 years would be a long way since the initial hearing. “We have put a lot of consideration and effort into the folks in Clark County, the victims.”
When asked if this sentence might be a deterrent for others thinking of these types of crimes, Hertel said Councilmembers, people in charge of entities and others, should be mindful of how they vote and make sure it’s not to secure personal gain. He doesn’t know if it will keep someone from repeating the crime for their own greed.
Will there be additional indictments? Hertel closed with, “…one step at a time…”
Noel’s wife, Misty, who has now filed for divorce, and daughter Kasey, have also been charged with felony charges in the matter. They have pled not guilty and hired an expert on coercive behavior to represent them in their upcoming trial on October 28.
Editor’s Note: The embroiled former law enforcement man was the subject of multiple stories and social media and will probably continue to be in the news for the foreseeable future. Ripley Publishing Co. has published two stories – an initial story on Nov. 16, 2023, and Apr. 18, 2024, one in more detail into the crimes.
