Local prosecutor handles large corruption case – Former sheriff/trooper faces multiple felony counts

“You are not the law.

“You don’t interpret the law.

“You don’t enforce the law.

“You’re not above the law.

“I find that you are in contempt of this court,” words spoken by Judge Larry Medlock in a Clark County courtroom last Tuesday at a hearing for former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel, 52, who is charged with buying and selling luxury cars with public funds and charging nearly $5M in personal spending to credit cards he had opened for the nonprofit fire and rescue he managed and more.

Bringing the heavy head of the gavel down, Judge Medlock was stern in his decision about Noel telling him not to try to deceive or defy him, that he wouldn’t like the consequences. Noel was sentenced to 60 days in jail after he was found in violation of having weapons in his home after his arrest in November.

Back to the Beginning.

While Noel was initially arrested in November of 2023, the felony counts continue to mount against him and Indiana State Police say the probe is far from over. The investigation is ongoing in one of the largest public corruption cases the State of Indiana has seen.

The investigation continues with Noel’s wife, Misty, and daughter, Kasey, also facing felony charges. Ripley County Prosecutor Ric Hertel was selected to serve as the special prosecutor and says there is the possibility of additional charges as the investigation is in full swing. Misty and Kasey were charged with theft and tax evasion, for charging credit cards belonging to the fire agency with personal services that includes clothing, cosmetics, Netflix, beauty appointments and much more.

The rant of the Judge is better understood when one realizes that Noel was an Indiana State Trooper for 22 years and served two terms as Sheriff where he simultaneously headed the Republican Party, the Ninth District GOP. He also ran a nonprofit firefighting and rescue agency – the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association aka New Chapel EMS.

Noel is now facing 25 counts that include official misconduct, tax evasion, and theft in Clark County. Investigators say Noel stole millions in his dual roles.

Like a bad house of cards, Noel’s life came crashing down around him last June, after investigators began looking into his finances. What they allegedly found was that Noel used his deputies to work on his private properties while they were being paid from the Sheriff’s Department. He also fathered a child with a council member and is accused of using his nonprofit’s funds to pay his court-ordered child support.

Court records say Noel registered 130 vehicles that included Corvettes, Cadillacs, a 1959 Chevy Bel-Air, to the volunteer firefighters group, then put many of those titles into his own name, sold them and kept the money. He is charged with stealing millions of taxpayer funds for designer clothing ($800 belt, Tom James suits -over $4,000 each, Ferragamo shoes), cars, even a private plane. He owns multiple properties, all high-end.

The Noels – Jamey, Misty and Kasey – have all pleaded not guilty. They were all free on bail until Jamey was sentenced to the 60-day term just last week. He posted an all-cash bail of $75,000 initially. Misty posted an all-cash bail of $30,000 just after her arrest in February and Kasey also posted an all-cash bail of $20,000. Now Jamey has to serve 60 days. The Judge sentenced Jamey to “60 days in”, which could have been a reference to the reality TV series “60 Days In” that the sheriff’s department participated with in 2016-2017.

In one document it was noted that Prosecutor Hertel said authorities were investigating whether Jamey and Misty had charged credit cards nearly $200,000 in tuition and college expenses for their two youngest daughters, who have not been named in the criminal proceedings.

During Noel’s term as Sheriff more than 20 female prisoners alleged they were sexually assaulted after a deputy sold the key to the women’s wing to male inmates. Deputy David Lowe was charged with Aiding an Escape, Official Misconduct and Trafficking with an Inmate. His trial will be July 23. At that time Sheriff Noel denied the women had been attacked.

The story of corruption seemingly has no end. There are multiple other allegations levied against the once respected lawman. He was charged with allegedly using the jail’s commissary fund for his own personal use to the tune of $918,416.23, which he was ordered to repay by the State. The tip of the iceberg may have been shown in the above story with multiple felonies hanging in the wind.

Present Sheriff Scottie Maples wrote on Facebook, “I was disturbed and very disappointed in Jamey Noel’s conduct and the steps he took to conceal information from his staff and me during his tenure as sheriff, but I knew something had to be done.” Maples worked under Noel when he was sheriff.

While attorneys, prosecutor and investigators cannot comment much due to the nature of the ongoing investigation, it is noted that the Noels should be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

In a county about four times larger than Ripley, people are buzzing about the corruption. Some are anxiously awaiting to see what happens at Jamey’s upcoming trial in November – if it’s not postponed.

Editor’s Note: It is important to note that all persons charged in the above story are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.