Clark County Jail
Jamey Noel, who served as Sheriff of Clark County in Indiana from 2015 to 2022, was sentenced to 15 years in prison this week after pleading guilty to 27 felony charges, including misappropriating $4.4 million in taxpayer money.
Judge Larry Medlock did suspend three of those years in prison as they will be served as probation, but he also ordered Noel to pay $270,000 in fines and more than $3 million in restitution.
Noel, 53, pleaded guilty to theft, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, money laundering, corrupt business influence and official misconduct.
“One outlandish discovery after another,” Medlock said. “You have failed everyone … bullying those who would not submit to your will.”
WDRB News reports that about 20 victims spoke during Noel’s sentencing and how his actions caused deaths, mental and physical pain among his employees, and how the stolen money robbed the community of necessary resources.
“He had no regard for our personal safety,” testified Suzanne Davis, who worked as a paramedic at New Chapel EMS from 2020-22. “No regard for our mental health. None.”
In addition to serving as Clark County Sheriff, Noel also led New Chapel Fire/EMS and the Utica Township Volunteer Fire Department.
Noel was arrested in November 2023 on 15 felony charges related to fraud, misconduct, theft, ghost employment and public corruption. In February 2024, more charges were added, including theft and tax evasion. Six more charges were filed against him in June 2024, including one count of money laundering. bringing the total number of charges to 31 at the time of his plea. He was also charged with contempt for failing to turn over all of his guns to state police as part of his bond.
An audit released in April of the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association and New Chapel EMS, revealed that Jamey Noel used taxpayer money to purchase over 100 cars, a Cessna airplane, Rolex watches, vacations, concerts, high-end clothing, military surplus items, food and alcohol (he charged over $2,500 to a Hooter’s restaurant), child support, college tuition, Amazon purchases, and more.
He, and allegedly his wife and daughter, racked up around $4.4 million in charges on the New Chapel EMS American Express credit card between 2019 and the end of 2023.
In addition to the estimated estimated $4.4 million he has been ordered to repay, he was also ordered repay another $918,000 after a state audit of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Jail Commissary fund.
Noel’s wife, who has since filed for divorce from the former sheriff, and his daughter have both pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges of theft and tax evasion.
According to court documents, Jamey Noel’s daughter allegedly used taxpayer funds to purchase clothing, tanning, cosmetics, manicure and pedicure services, food, tickets, trips, alcohol, utilities, vaping products, gas, Netflix, and items from Amazon.
Both Noel’s wife and daughter are working on a plea agreement, according to attorneys on both sides.
“We have been in negotiation for quite some period of time,” said Ric Hertel, special prosecutor. “We don’t have a resolution at this time, but we are working and continue to work toward a potential plea agreement to offer to the court for review and possible acceptance, but we are not there yet at this point and time.”