CLARK COUNTY, Ind. — All eyes were on disgraced former Indiana sheriff Jamey Noel as he learned his fate in a Clark County courtroom on Monday.
For nearly three hours, 20 people provided statements before Judge Larry Medlock, chastising Noel on how his crimes affected them personally. Some partially pinned their dead family members on him for slow ambulance service in the county.
Noel, who was visibly broken and teary-eyed at times, apologized to those he’d hurt and took the blame for everything that had happened.
Before Medlock made his decision on the plea agreement, he had harsh words for Noel.
“Everybody wants you to do a lifetime in prison, and maybe that’s what you deserve,” he said. “The law will not allow me to do that.”
Medlock said Noel had tarnished the badge he had been given by citizens whom he said Noel “tricked” into voting for and trusting him.
“You have failed everyone who has ever worn a uniform whether it’d be law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, or the line. You professed to promote Democratic freedom, yet you behaved as a political fascist – thwarting and bullying those who would not submit to your will,” he said. “How do you restore public trust in their government and their need for equal justice under the law? Not just for Jamey Noel’s friends, but for fair treatment for all of those who seek to uphold our office with integrity. Restoring trust means allowing justice to prevail.”
Medlock discussed how Noel’s “greed” had an adverse effect on the community from his time of being CEO of Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association and New Chapel EMS to the alleged stealing from his niece’s and nephew’s inheritance.
“You failed as an uncle and a brother in all regards. You failed as a father. I would have thought any honorable man would have accepted responsibility for their misdeeds instead of getting your daughter arrested and charged – yet you sat silent until today.”
Medlock agreed to the 15-year prison sentence for Noel. He will spend the last three years served on probation.
"I could give you more time, but then I'm subject to appeal. And they might lower my sentence. I also listened today carefully. Not one of them indicated they wanted you to spend more time in prison. They wanted you to remember your deceased brother and what you did to his children. Some of them want you to suffer. And I would hope you could understand that considering how you betrayed everyone."
Noel agreed to plead guilty to:
- One count of corrupt business influence.
- Fifteen counts of theft.
- One count of obstruction of justice.
- Four counts of official misconduct.
- Five counts of tax evasion.
- One count of money laundering.
Noel will pay $2,870,924 to the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association and $61,190.77 to the Clark County Sheriff's Department; and $35,245.60 to Indiana State Police for costs related to storing evidence.
Jamey and his estranged wife Misty Noel will pay $173,155.07 to the Indiana Department of Revenue.
Jamey is also subject to a $270,000 fine determined by Judge Medlock, who tacked on $10,000 for each guilty count.
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