VERSAILLES, Ind. — Oct. 14 could be the last time former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel enters a courtroom for a very long time. The date, which is a holiday for all other court business, is set to be a "continuation of a change of plea and possible sentencing" for Noel.
"Coming to this resolution and this proposed plea agreement was something that we certainly didn't take lightly and spent a lot of time working towards," Special Prosecutor Ric Hertel said.
Hertel, the Ripley County Prosecutor, was assigned to this case in the fall of 2023 because he had no connection to Clark County or familiarity with Noel.
He has since brought 50 total felonies against Jamey Noel and his family members, for their alleged crimes of theft, tax evasion, official misconduct, ghost employment and more.
On Aug. 26, Jamey Noel changed his plea to "guilty" on 27 charges. He signed a plea agreement that included a 15-year prison sentence, and over $3 million in restitution to the agencies he allegedly stole from.
Judge Larry Medlock took the plea under advisement, but said he will not accept the plea until he hears from the victims of Noel's alleged crimes.
“I will introduce them, ask them a few very simple questions, and then it’ll be their turn to address the court and give their position on things," Hertel said.
Noel and his family are alleged to have stolen over $3 million from The Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association, which does business publicly as New Chapel Fire and EMS. Noel, his wife Misty and their daughter Kasey allegedly spent the money on fine jewelry, lingerie, steak dinners, travel to New York, New Orleans and Cuba, several classic cars and more.
New Chapel EMS' current leadership has said these stolen funds greatly impacted the level of service they were able to provide; FOCUS found instances of people waiting between 20-30 minutes for an ambulance in Clark County earlier this year.
Hertel said 19 people are currently signed up to give victim impact statements. The list of speakers will not be public until Oct. 14, but Hertel was able to say the following people or groups will speak: one representative of New Chapel EMS, one representative of the Clark County Sheriff's Office, one representative of the Indiana Dept. of Revenue, New Chapel EMS employees who recently lost their job and people in Clark and Floyd Counties who got slow ambulance service.
He said the list will be wider than that, though.
"I think there’s people who’ve crossed paths with him in the past, whether it be political situations, as sheriff or even as director of New Chapel, they’ve crossed paths, and there’s even taxpayers of Clark County who feel they’re a victim," Hertel said. “Some of them are very gut-wrenching stories.”
Hertel said the majority of people have thanked him for his work and are happy the case is headed towards a prison sentence.
“Many of them expressed, pleasure sounds bad but, satisfaction that he is going to go to a prison system," he said.
Some of the former New Chapel employees FOCUS has talked to are not happy with the proposed plea deal.
"Jamey embarrassed every first responder that's ever worn the uniform, or ever will uniform, or currently wearing it," Roger Montgomery said, who worked for New Chapel between 2005-2012. "He should have to answer for every crime he's committed."
Noel's plea deal includes 27 of the 31 charges he was charged with. The charges of ghost employment were dropped.
Montgomery and his girlfriend Suzanne Davis, also a former New Chapel employee, said 15 years and $3 million in restitution leaves a lot to be desired.
"Yes he gave me a job, but he also gave me a lot of emotional scars -- he and his command staff -- because of his uncaring attitude," Davis said.
Hertel said while they have passed the mid-September deadline to add any more speakers, since they don't have the maximum 25 he was allotted, he's willing to add some more.
“If someone is still interested in speaking on that day, I can make that happen," Hertel said.
Anyone interested should email Ric Hertel at ripleycountyprosecutor@gmail.com You will need to explain how you feel you are a victim of Jamey Noel and indicate if you're willing to speak on Oct. 14.
Hertel said he knows it's a possibility that Medlock will throw out the plea deal.
“Obviously I feel that the sentence is appropriate. But if he says ‘No, it’s not appropriate I’m rejecting it.’ Then I’ll do what I always do and that’s prepare for trial," Hertel said.
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