JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) -- The estranged wife of former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel and their daughter appeared in court on Tuesday as they try to have their cases combined.

Misty and Kasey Noel are asking Judge Larry Medlock to have their trials merged into one, since both are facing similar charges in the investigation into Jamey Noel. 

Jamey Noel, who did not appear in court on Tuesday, is sitting in the Scott County Jail on a $1.5 million bond, facing 31 charges related to allegations he used millions of dollars from two agencies he used to run — New Chapel Fire/EMS and the Utica Township Volunteer Fire Department — for his own use. Charges include fraud, money laundering, misconduct, ghost employment and public corruption. 

Misty and Kasey Noel are both facing multiple felony charges for theft and tax evasion, but are out of jail on bond and have pleaded not guilty. 

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 his daughter charged more than $100,000 to the Utica Volunteer Fire Department and New Chapel EMS. 

According to detailed charges, Kasey Noel made purchases for: clothing, tanning, cosmetics, manicure and pedicure services, food, tickets, trips, alcohol, utilities, vaping products, gas, Netflix and items from Amazon. The charges occurred between October 2018 and September 2023, totaling $108,660.59. 

Kasey Noel's trial is set to start later this month, while Misty's trial is scheduled for October.

In court Tuesday, the defense argued the two women should have the same trial because their charges are so similar. That may seem like a basic request, but combining trials doesn't happen often in Indiana, especially with a high-profile case like this.

"Kasey, who is charged with an F6 (level 6 felony), is entitled to a six-person jury and Misty, who is charged with an F5 (level 5 felony), is entitled to a 12-person (jury), so the law requires different numbers in the jury pool, so that is kind of the dilemma the judge has to wrangle with now," Special Prosecutor Ric Hertel said.

"The options would be that, or Misty would have to waive her right to a 12-person jury, if Indiana law allows it," Misty Noel's attorney Bart McMahon said.

There were also discussions of allowing Misty and Kasey Noel to travel to Louisville. Right now, the conditions of their bonds prohibit them from leaving Indiana. 

"I think it is a basic dignitary function just to be able to go across the river if they wanted to go to a restaurant, or go see friends, things of that nature," said McMahon. "We aren't asking for a spring break pass under any circumstances, but it is one that most defendants enjoy that privilege." 

Medlock referred to the dozens of cars Jamey Noel owned, and which ones the women could drive if they needed and why.

"A list of automobiles identified by make, model and year that they have available to them and the vehicles they currently utilize for transportation and under seal, where they would be going to in Louisville," he said.

Kasey Noel’s attorney Sunnye Bush-Sawtelle said she now has hundreds of phone calls Jamey Noel made from jail. Bush-Sawtelle said she is going through those calls with a psychologist to discuss how Jamey may have been controlling with the family - calls she said could be used as evidence.

She requested a continuance for Kasey Noel’s original trial date of August 20th which the judge granted.

Medlock said he will talk to both sides outside of court, and needs time decide what the next step will be. 

Misty Noel filed for divorce from Jamey Noel last week, claiming the marriage is "irretrievably broken." The filing said the couple has been separated since April.

Jamey 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 and his family have been 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 jury trial for Jamey Noel is scheduled to begin in November.

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