After prison, Misty Jackson opens up about fallout from scandal surrounding ex Jamey Noel

CLARK COUNTY, Ind. (WDRB) — Nearly a year after her sentencing, Misty Jackson — formerly Noel — is opening up about the public backlash, her own accountability, and the lasting impact of the scandal surrounding her ex-husband, former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel.

Jackson was released from prison last week after serving nearly 10 months of her 18-month prison sentence on five counts of theft and five counts of tax evasion.

On Monday, she said the anger from the community was unavoidable.

"A lot of the public anger was directed at me," she said. "When I would go to the grocery store, people would take videos and pictures of me. People would yell things at us as we were walking out to the mailbox."

Jackson was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in May 2025 to five counts of theft and five counts of tax evasion. She served about 10 months behind bars and is now on 4 1/2 years of probation.

As part of her plea deal, Jackson had to repay $660,806.64 in restitution to New Chapel EMS and $29,547 to the Indiana Department of Revenue. The Indiana Attorney General is reviewing part of the restitution.

Her ex-husband, Jamey Noel, was sentenced in Oct. 2024 to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty Aug. 26, 2024, to 27 felony charges, including theft, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, money laundering and official misconduct. He was also ordered to pay millions in restitution.

Now going by her maiden name, Jackson acknowledges her role — but says she was also misled.

"Do I have culpability? Yes," she said. "I’m guilty of not being more aware and not asking more questions. I take responsibility for that. But am I a victim of Jamey’s deceit? Yes."

Still, she says her focus isn’t on herself — but on her children.

"I’m more focused on my girls … especially my oldest daughter and what she went through."

Her oldest, Kasey Noel, was sentenced to nine months in prison. She was arrested on nine felony charges, including five counts of theft and four counts of tax evasion. Search warrants in the corruption case of Jamey Noel indicate Kasey Noel charged more than $100,000 to the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association and New Chapel EMS.

Jackson says she has not spoken to Jamey Noel since before she reported to prison, when he sent her a letter apologizing. She says that apology doesn’t change how she feels.

"No, I can’t forgive him," she said. "Not for me — I was just his wife. But what he did to our kids. … I don’t know how someone does that. I would lay my whole life down for my girls."

She says the emotional toll on their daughters was severe.

"One struggled, one was terrified about what was going to happen, and another felt guilty because she believed things he was saying," Jackson said.

The couple met when Jackson was 21 and, for a time, she says they had a good life. But she believes things changed as Noel gained power.

"I did, up to a point," she said. "But he changed with power. The more powerful he became, the more different he became — especially when he became sheriff."

During that time, the family lived in homes in Jeffersonville and Florida, while Noel amassed luxury items including an extensive car collection, expensive suits, cigars and jewelry.

Jackson claims she questioned some of the spending, but says she never got clear answers.

"He would talk in circles," she said. "He’s very good at that. I would become frustrated, but I don’t think I could have stopped what he was doing."

At his sentencing, Jamey Noel said his family, including his wife, had no idea of his illegal activity.

Now back in Clark County, Jackson says she plans to move on. A nurse by profession, she is currently looking for work and trying to move forward.

As she begins that next chapter, Jackson says she takes responsibility for her actions.

Background

Jamey Noel pleaded guilty Aug. 26, 2024, to 27 felonies, including theft, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, money laundering, corrupt business influence and official misconduct. Noel agreed to a plea deal nearly a year after he was arrested and Indiana State Police investigators raided his home in southern Indiana.

The former sheriff was sentenced in Oct. 2024 to 12 years in prison, which he is serving at the Indiana Department of Corrections New Castle Correctional Annex. His earliest possible release date is June 2033.

A lengthy investigation found Noel took public money for years to support a lavish lifestyle that included cars, boats, planes, tuition payments, child support and more.

As part of the plea deal, he was ordered to pay more than $3.1 million in restitution to four different public agencies:

$2,870,924 to Utica Township Volunteers Firefighters Association (dba New Chapel EMS)
$173,155.07 to the Indiana Department of Revenue
$61,190.77 to the Clark County Sheriff's Department
$35,245.60 to Indiana State Police

To recover the funds, nearly all of Noel’s assets were ordered sold at auctions. Among the items on the block, dozens of his personal items, guns, custom suits, watches, old police cruisers and luxury vehicles.

In September, the former sheriff was also ordered to pay $918,000 in damages to the state of Indiana. The special judge in one of the state's civil cases against Noel said he should pay the $918,000 as punitive damages. The amount is in additional to the more than $3 million Noel agreed to pay as part of his criminal case.