JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — Editor's note: If you believe you are a victim of Jamey Noel, Special Prosecutor Ric Hertel asks you to fill out a victim impact form found here.
Two people arrested and charged in the investigation into former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel appeared in court Monday in a hearing that often turned contentious.
Former Clark County Councilwoman Brittney Ferree and current Councilman and Clarksville Police Officer John Miller were arrested Friday and charged with one count of felony conflict of interest. Both are accused of accepting gifts from Noel and voting on New Chapel EMS/Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association funding requests without filling out a conflict of interest form.
Noel ran the UTVFA for many years. He and two of his family members are accused of stealing millions from the organization.
Ferree and Miller pleaded not guilty. Judge Larry Medlock set bond at $3,500 for Ferree and $3,000 for Miller, which both later posted.
Indiana State Police Lt. Jeffrey Hearon, the lead investigator on the case, was called to the stand when the court was determining bond for both suspects, and the dialogue turned contentious numerous times with defense attorneys. Special Prosecutor Ric Hertel spent several minutes outlining ISP's efforts to locate Ferree on Friday.
Hearon said a warrant for her arrest was issued about 11:20 a.m., and he sent detectives to her residence in Sellersburg and salon in Jeffersonville, but did not locate her. Hertel said Ferree spent five to seven hours "evading" arrest, as license plate readers found her heading to a cousin's house in Madison and later in New Albany.
Ferree turned herself into the Sheriff's Office at 5:30, shortly after reportedly finding out ISP had one or her children. Hearon said calls and texts from ISP -- and the school where the child attends -- went unreturned throughout the day.
Ferree's attorney Eric Weitzel grilled Hearon and strongly objected to any insinuation Ferree was a flight risk. Judge Medlock said Ferree's bond was $500 higher because she has "trouble listening to directions."
The ISP investigation uncovered Noel fathered a child with Ferree and paid her over $100,000 in child support using UTVFA funds. Investigators also found the two took three trips together on the department's dime.
"There seems to be allegations that he made payments to her for various things, [but] there is no indication she knew where that money was coming from," Weitzel told WHAS 11 in an interview after the hearing.
A BMW owned by the UTVFA gifted by Noel to Ferree has also been scrutinized.
Court documents released Monday show Ferree admitted to investigators she approved funding requests for the UTVFA/New Chapel Fire without filling out a conflict of interest form.
Miller is also a Clarksville police officer. According to ISP, Noel used UTVFA funds to pay for 20-25 meals, concert tickets and flights for Miller.
Recent court documents indicated Miller voted six times to approve funding for UTVFA/New Chapel Fire without disclosing a potential conflict of interest.
When asked if his client had any regrets about the situation, Miller's attorney Bart Betteau told WHAS 11, "I think there's no question that things might have been done differently, with the value of hindsight. But he knowingly committed no crime at any time."
A probable cause affidavit released by ISP Monday indicated Miller and Noel sometimes referred to their dinners as "steak night," according to text messages seized. The two spent $692 at St. Elmo's in Indianapolis and $755 at Morton's in Louisville in October 2022, and $1,300 at Morton's the month prior.
ISP said those meals were paid for with UTVFA funds.
While released on bond, both Miller and Ferree are ordered not to have any contact with other people connected to this case.
They're both due back in court on Oct. 11. They're each allowed one shotgun for personal protection, but no other firearms.
Miller and Ferree each face up to two-and-a-half years in prison if convicted.
CASE BACKGROUND
Jamey Noel is facing 31 felony charges, including counts of theft, tax evasion, corrupt business practices, ghost employment, official misconduct and money laundering. The ISP investigation began in June 2023 following allegations that Noel directed jail staff to work on his personal property and run his personal errands while on county time.
His wife Misty Noel pleaded not guilty to 10 felonies; five counts of theft and five counts of tax evasion.
Daughter Kasey Noel pleaded not guilty to nine felonies; five counts of theft and four counts of tax evasion.
According to previous court documents, Hearon found millions of dollars of personal purchases made by all three on Utica Township Volunteer Firefighter Association credit cards. He also stated they failed to disclose income on their taxes over a five-year span.
Jamey ran UTVFA for many years until January when he was ousted by the board.
In March, investigators uncovered over $100,000 in tuition and education-related payments were made from the cards by Jamey and Misty. Hearon asked a judge for permission to search Indiana University records regarding Josey and Gracy Noel -- Jamey and Misty's other daughters who are currently enrolled at IU campuses.
In April, ISP said the family spent over $300,000 on vacations using fire department funds without reimbursement. Noel was ordered to serve 60 days in jail on April 9 after a judge found him in contempt of court for having firearms in his home in violation of his bond conditions.
The investigation also uncovered Jamey fathered a child with former Clark County Councilwoman Brittney Ferree and made child support payments with UTVFA funds. In July, it was revealed Noel spent $104,971.51 in department funds on child support between March 2020 and September 2023.
Noel also provided Ferree with gifts and travel. Ferree was arrested Aug. 23 and charged with felony conflict of interest.
Jamey Noel's vast automobile collection has been under scrutiny by investigators since the beginning of the investigation.
According to court documents, 133 vehicles are registered to the Utica Township Volunteer Fire Department and New Chapel EMS. A review of those vehicles showed several were "inconsistent" with a not-for-profit fire department and EMS business.
Jamey is accused of orchestrating a vehicle trading and selling scheme where he traded in several cars registered to the UTVFA for vehicles he then registered to himself for personal use. In some cases, he allegedly sold them and pocketed the money.
Court documents released in early March indicated 26 containers of military surplus equipment belonging to the Clark County Sheriff's Office were found on a property in Deputy, Indiana. Hearon alleged Noel sold multiple items belonging to the sheriff's office and sold them for personal gain.
The investigation has also focused on former Scott County Sheriff Kenneth Hughbanks, a friend and associate of Jamey's. Hearon said Hughbanks failed to report over $200,000 in income on his taxes. He has not been charged.
In May, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita filed civil lawsuits against the entire Noel family in an effort to recover $4 million in funds the Noels illegally spent.
In July, court documents revealed Jamey spent thousands in UTVFA funds on Reds ticket, golf in Florida and restaurants post-arrest. Another round of documents released by ISP showed Noel spent $60,000 on travel for himself and Ferree, and for members of his family.
Clarksville police officer and Clark County Councilman John Miller was also arrested Aug. 23 and charged with one count of felony conflict of interest. According to ISP, Noel provided him with 20-25 free meals and concert tickets, and Miller voted on several New Chapel EMS/UTVFA funding requests without disclosing a possible conflict of interest.