Jamey Noel pleads guilty to 27 felonies, could face 15 years in prison for years of theft, fraud

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) -- Former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel pleaded guilty Monday morning to 27 felony charges, including theft, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, money laundering, corrupt business influence and official misconduct.

Noel agreed to the plea deal nearly a year after he was arrested and Indiana State Police investigators raided his home in southern Indiana. Over the course of many years, Noel is accused using public money to fund a lavish lifestyle for himself, his family and his friends, complete with international trips, luxury cars and a private plane.

As part of Monday's deal, Noel 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 

Coy Travis, the attorney representing New Chapel EMS, called the plea deal "vindicating."

"This is a day that a lot of us in southern Indiana were looking forward to hearing," Travis said Monday. "It's really a major step that we all need to begin starting to heal from all of the damage that's been done and put this chapter of life behind us." 

Four of Noel's charges of felony ghost employment were dismissed as part of the deal. He agreed to serve a total sentence of 15 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with three years suspended to probation. He'll receive credit for days served, beginning June 8, 2024.

"I think that him going to prison for 12 years — if the judge accepts this agreement — should be a pretty big deterrent for a guy leading the lifestyle that he lived leading up to this," Special Prosecutor Ric Hertel said in a news conference after Monday's hearing.

Noel has been in custody in the Scott County Jail on a $1.5 million bond. His jury trial was scheduled to begin in November.

Special Judge Larry Medlock took Monday's plea deal under advisement and will make an official ruling soon. Before accepting the plea agreement, Medlock said Monday he wants to hear from anyone in the community who's been harmed.

"I need EMS workers who have lost their jobs, paramedics that are not out there saving people because the money was diverted for pleasures," Medlock said. "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."

Anyone who has been affected by Noel's crimes is being asked to reach out to Special Prosecutor Ric Hertel's office at 812-689-6331.

Medlock didn't set a date for a sentencing hearing Monday, but Hertel said after the plea that the could take more than a day.

"This could be somewhat overwhelming," he said of Medlock's request. "And I hope that my staff can handle that, but we are going to comply with what the judge told us to do. It sounds like it may take more than a day for the sentencing hearing ... if all of these victims are going to be permitted to come in and testify."

What led to Jamey Noel's Arrest?

Much of the damning evidence in the case has been released as part of the lengthy investigation into Noel's corruption and use of public funds to support he and his family's lavish lifestyle. Noel, who served as Clark County Sheriff from 2015-23 and also led New Chapel Fire/EMS and the Utica Township Volunteer Fire Department, has for months faced allegations he used millions of dollars from the agencies for his own use. 

The former sheriff is accused of using credit cards from the agencies to pay for a massive car collection, an airplane and bills for his kids, including rent and college tuition. There are millions of dollars in charges, all outlined in official court documents.

Noel was arrested in November 2023 on 15 felony charges related to fraud, misconduct, theft, ghost employment and public corruption after a nearly year-long investigation. More charges were filed against him in early February, including theft and tax evasion.

He had been out of jail after posting a $75,000 cash bond. As one of the terms of his release, he 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.

Special Judge Larry Medlock ordered him 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 included one count of money laundering and five additional counts of theft. Medlock increased his 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. 

That completed the total of 31 charges that Noel faced at the time of Monday's plea.

Some of the theft accusations against Noel were outlined in an audit released in April of the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association and New Chapel EMS. The audit revealed he used taxpayer money to pay for vacations, Rolex watches, high-end clothing, child support, college tuition and more.

The Indiana State Board of Accounts said, from 2019-23, New Chapel received a total of $3.9 million in public money from Clark and Floyd counties. Over that same four-year period, Noel was paid $582,564 in wages, as listed on his W-2. But auditors said he was paid even more money off the books. Over that four-year period, auditors said New Chapel made $4.4 million in payments on an American Express credit card, $2 million of which Noel spent alone.

The audit details the roughly $4.4 million Noel, his wife Misty and daughter Kasey all racked up on the New Chapel EMS American Express credit card, roughly between 2019 and the end of 2023. 

As part of the ongoing investigation, Noel and his family were ordered by the state to pay all of the money back, which is an estimated $4.4 million. That's in addition to the $918,000 he's been asked to repay after a state audit of the Clark County Sheriff's Office Jail Commissary fund. The audit covered 2015-17 and 2019-22.

A May court ruling prohibited the Noels from selling any assets as part of the state's civil suit against the former sheriff to recover the millions of dollars in alleged misused public money. The ruling came after Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita asked a judge to issue an injunction and a restraining order to stop Noel and his family from selling assets such as cars, homes, jewelry and clothing so all public funds can be paid back. Ultimately, the judge issued the temporary restraining order to block sales of the Noel family's assets, which are now frozen.

To date, investigators have made public more than 60 search warrants and their findings since their probe began last summer, each outlining evidence seized or otherwise learned in the case.

Charges Against Noel's Family 

Misty Noel, who has since filed for divorce from her husband, and their daughter, Kasey Noel, are also implicated in the case, facing multiple felony charges for theft and tax evasion. They have each pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and are out of jail on bond. 

But their trials remain in limbo. A jury trial for Kasey Noel was set to start Tuesday, Aug. 20. Instead, it was delayed during a court hearing that day until Medlock issues a ruling on a request earlier this month asking that their trials be joined. The two petitioned the court Aug. 6 to have their cases combined, since they both face similar charges connected to the investigation into Jamey Noel. 

Misty Noel was charged with 10 felonies in the case. She was arrested in February and spent a weekend in the Scott County Detention Center before her first court appearance and was released from jail after posting a $30,000 cash bond. 

Kasey Noel was arrested in April 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. 

According to court documents listing items purchased, Kasey Noel made the following purchases totaling $108,660.59 between October 2018 and September 2023:

• Clothing
• Tanning
• Cosmetics
• Manicure and pedicure services
• Food
• Tickets
• Trips
• Alcohol
• Utilities
• Vaping products
• Gas
• Netflix
• Items from Amazon

Medlock is expected to rule on Misty and Kasey Noel's request for permission to travel to Louisville while awaiting trial. Right now, the conditions of their bond prohibit them from leaving the state. 

On Monday, the judge set a trial date of Oct. 28. Medlock said the trials can be combined if the two sides can agree on how to handle the jury pool.

Two New Arrests

On Aug. 23, Clark County Councilman John Miller, who's also a Clarksville Police officer, and former Clark County Councilwoman Brittney Ferree were arrested in connection with the Jamey Noel investigation.

Indiana State Police Capt. Ron Galaviz said Miller is charged with one count of official misconduct, which is a level 6 felony. And Ferree turned herself in at the Clark County Jail at 5:43 p.m. Friday after ISP announced they were looking for her. She's also charged with official misconduct.

In total, investigators said Noel gave Ferree more than $114,000 for child support, trips and other expenses using money from the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association between 2019 and 2022.

According to court documents, Noel gave Miller thousands of dollars from the Utica Township Volunteers Firefighters Association for trips, meals, lodging and other items.

Miller acknowledged that he annually accepted 25 meals from Jamey Noel because he wouldn't let anyone pay for a meal, if you were with him.

Miller said Noel also paid for concert tickets for a Kenny Chesney concert and him, his wife and two other couples.

According to ISP, all of it was paid for using the fire department's credit cards. Here's a breakdown of funds for Miller and Noel together:

• Flight to Managua, Nicaragua, for Miller and other persons on April 4, 2018: $1,505.89 each
• Flight to Havana, Cuba, for Miller and other persons on Feb. 9, 2023: $938.45 each
• Total charges for Cuba Trip (lodging, meals and tours): $8,585
• George Strait Concert in Nashville tickets: $4,423.44
• George Strait Concert Hotel:$649.90
• St. Elmo's Steak House:
  • Dec. 17, 2022: $1,007.72, $750.
  • Dec. 18, 2022: $660.27, $500.
  • June 17, 2022: $520.79

As a councilman, Miller also approved funding for New Chapel EMS, which Noel was the CEO, without disclosing a conflict of interest.

Miller and Ferree both pleaded not guilty in court Monday morning, and Medlock set a pretrial hearing for February. A judge set Miller's bond at $3,000 and Ferree's at $3,500. Both have to surrender all guns to the court, though they may keep a shotgun at home for protection.

Officials said both Miller and Ferree had posted bond just before 3 p.m. Monday and would be released from jail.

Clarksville Police Chief Nate Walls said Miller is currently suspended without pay. Because the chief can only suspend an officer for five days, the Town of Clarksville Police and Fire Commission will meet Friday morning to decide whether or not to extend Miller's suspension.

Jamey Noel Coverage: 

• Investigators in Jamey Noel case confiscate several Rolex watches, diamond necklaces
• Jamey Noel accused of using fire department funds to purchase flights for family, former councilwoman
• 20 deposition notices sent in theft, fraud trial against Jamey Noel
• Judge raises Jamey Noel's bond to $1.5M as he sits in jail facing 31 felony charges

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