LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Jennings County Sheriff William "Kenny" Freeman was indicted by a grand jury Thursday on multiple charges in connection with the theft of campaign signs.
According to Indiana State Police, the arrest came after a six-month investigation that began in November 2025 when a candidate for Jennings County sheriff reported he had campaign signs stolen from locations along roadways.
The candidate placed a GPS device on one of his signs and saw that the sign was in a dumpster on Freeman’s property.
Troopers recovered the sign from Freeman’s dumpster and found other campaign signs inside, including signs for a candidate for Jennings County judge.
Police said soon after the signs were found, Freeman issued a complaint and summons to both political candidates related to the placement of their signs.
After a special prosecutor and judge were requested because of the involvement of a current sheriff, the case was then presented to a grand jury.
Freeman was indicted on the following charges:
- Theft, two counts, Class A misdemeanor
- Official misconduct, Level 6 felony
- Obstruction of justice, Level 6 felony
- Perjury, Level 6 felony
At the Jennings County Fair on Monday night, Shara Vernon, who was at the fair with the county's Democratic Party, said the allegations are concerning.
"It goes against the golden rule," said Shara Vernon, who was at the county fair with the county's Democratic Party. "And even in political parties, we should always follow that rule."
Vernon said she knows what it's like to have a political sign disappear. She recalled putting an anti-Trump sign in her yard shortly after moving to North Vernon.
"I had that sign in my front yard shortly after I moved to North Vernon," Vernon said. "And it was stolen about two weeks into moving here."
An arrest warrant for Freeman was served Monday morning when he turned himself in at the Ripley County Jail. Freeman was released on his own recognizance.
Police said he waived his right to an initial hearing on the charges. It’s unknown at this time when a pretrial hearing will take place.
"I think if he did do it, and he's convicted of that, that's a terrible thing," Vernon said.
Both candidates running for Jennings County sheriff declined to comment. Representatives with the Jennings County Republican Party at the county fair also declined to comment.
Police said Tuesday Freeman waived his right to an initial hearing on the charges.
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