LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The wife and daughter of former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel charged with stealing taxpayers' money to lead extravagant lives may never go to trial.

Misty and Kasey Noel were in court on Monday to discuss plans for their trial. But now a plea deal could be in the works. Misty faces 10 felony charges of theft and tax evasion. Her daughter Kasey is also charged.

Both trials are scheduled to start on the same day, Oct. 28.

Jamey Noel pleaded guilty to 27 felony charges. He is expected to be sentenced next week. 

On Monday, prosecutors and defense attorneys told Judge Larry Medlock they are working on a plea agreement for Noel's wife and daughter.

"We have been in negotiation for quite some period of time," said Ric Hertel, special prosecutor. "We don't have a resolution at this time, but we are working and continue to work toward a potential plea agreement to offer to the court for review and possible acceptance, but we are not there yet at this point and time."

The attorneys want to have a resolution brought to court in the near future.

"I'll be honest with you, I know there are victims coming in next Monday and that will have a big impact on whether or not I am willing to accept whatever deal you guys enter into or propose to enter into," Medlock said.

Misty and Kasey Noel trials 

Misty Noel, who has 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. 

A jury trial for Kasey Noel was supposed to start Tuesday, Aug. 20. Instead, it was delayed during a court hearing that day until Medlock issued a ruling on a request 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. 

The charges against Noel's wife, Misty Noel, require a 12-person jury. The charges against their daughter, Kasey, require just six people.

On Sept. 5, a court filing by Misty Noel's attorney stated she would stick with the larger jury and their cases would not be combined. 

The two women allegedly used public funds for plastic surgery, beauty appointments, liquor, air fare, hotels and more.

Jamey Noel's guilty plea

Jamey Noel pleaded guilty to 27 charges against him, and he is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 14. 

Noel served as Clark County Sheriff from 2015-23 and also led New Chapel Fire/EMS and the Utica Township Volunteer Fire Department.

On Aug. 26, he pleaded guilty to 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.

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.

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. 

Paying restitution

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.

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