20 deposition notices sent in theft, fraud trial against Jamey Noel

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Court documents released Thursday give an idea of witnesses who may be called in the fraud trial against former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel.

Prosecutors sent deposition notices to 20 people, including several deputies from the sheriff's office, county officials and employees of New Chapel Fire.

Noel served as Clark County sheriff from 2015-23 and also led New Chapel Fire/EMS and the Utica Township Volunteer Fire Department. He faces 31 charges related to allegations he used millions of dollars from the agencies for his own use. Charges also include misconduct, ghost employment and public corruption.

The former sheriff is accused of using credit cards from the agencies to fund his and his family's lifestyle — paying for a massive car collection, an airplane, and bills for his kids — including rent and college tuition — among other things.

Noel was arrested in November 2023 on 15 felony charges related to fraud, misconduct, theft, ghost employment and public corruption after a nearly yearlong investigation, which remains ongoing. Another 10 charges were filed against him in early February, including theft and tax evasion.

He'd been out of jail after posting a $75,000 cash bond. As one of the terms of his release, Noel was prohibited from having firearms, aside from a shotgun for "personal protection." But he was ordered to appear in court after two pistols were found by Indiana State Police detectives during a search of the family home.

Medlock ordered Noel back to jail for 60 days, finding him in contempt of court.

Six new charges were filed against Noel in early June. According to court documents, those include one count of money laundering and five additional counts of theft. In total, he now faces 31 charges.

Medlock increased Noel's bond amount to $1.5 million a day after the new charges were levied against him, so he was not released from jail at the end of his 60-day sentence.

Noel remains in the Scott County Jail on the $1.5 million bond after the Indiana Court of Appeals rejected an appeal from his attorneys that claimed the terms of his original $75,000 bond were too excessive.

The appeals court ruling issued on June 20 found the conditions of Noel's original bond were "not an abuse of discretion," with the court saying it was "unpersuaded" by the arguments presented by Noel's attorneys.

Depositions are set for August. A jury trial for Noel is scheduled to begin in November.

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