JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — Jamey Noel, the former southern Indiana sheriff facing numerous felony charges, has made headlines over the last several months.
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Noel was the Clark County sheriff from 2015 to the end of 2022. He was also in charge of/or in a leadership position at Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association, New Chapel EMS and New Chapel Fire from 1993 to January 2024, according to current chief Matt Owen. These are nonprofit EMS agencies that serve Clark and Floyd Counties.
The state investigation into Noel has been looking into misuse of funds as sheriff, and also as the head of those EMS agencies. He's no longer the head of those agencies. He was placed on administrative leave in November 2023 and was permanently removed in January.
Noel is facing 25 felonies for stealing county funds and vehicles, telling county employees to work on his personal properties or run errands for him while they were on county time, allegedly using taxpayer money to buy a personal Cessna airplane and more.
His first 15 felonies are related to things he allegedly did as sheriff, his next 10 are for stealing money from his nonprofit fire and EMS entities.
Each of these 10 are for theft or tax evasion. Police allege he and his wife took money from the fire departments and spent it on themselves without declaring it as income on their taxes.
Noel is facing eight level 5 felonies, and 17 level six felonies. Those are the lowest and second-lowest levels of felonies in Indiana.
He appeared in Clark County Circuit Court on April 9 for a contempt of court hearing stemming from firearms found inside his residence during a recent search warrant. When Noel posted bond in November following his arrest, Special Judge Larry Medlock ordered him to surrender all firearms, minus one shotgun.
Two handguns were found during a March 13 search of his Jeffersonville home.
"I told Mr. Noel, 'Don't do anything stupid. Do not try to deceive me or defy me. You will not like the consequences.' Today is that day. You are not the law. You don't interpret the law. You don't enforce the law. You're not above the law. I find that you are in contempt of this court. Take him into custody."
Judge Medlock sentenced Noel to 60 days in jail. Noel and the jail he ran as sheriff were featured on the first season of the A&E series "60 Days In."
"What is an appropriate sanction? I can sentence him to up to 180 days without a trial." Judge Medlock said. "Or I can sentence him to a day, or I could release him. You know what I think the answer is? Sixty days in."
He also said an "independent individual" needs to comb through all of Noel's properties for firearms before he is released.
CASE BACKGROUND:
Jamey Noel is facing 25 felony charges, including counts of theft, tax evasion, corrupt business practices, ghost employment and official misconduct. 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 is facing 10 felonies; five counts of theft and five counts of tax evasion.
Jamey's daughter, Kasey Noel, is facing 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 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.
The investigation also uncovered Jamey fathered a child with former Clark County Councilwoman Brittney Ferree and paid child support payments with UTVFA funds.
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.
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