JEFFERSONVILLE —Special Judge Larry Medlock sent former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel back to jail on contempt of court charges. Noel also served as the Republican Congressional Chairman for District 9, Monroe County, and the Clark County Republican Party Chairman.
Judge Medlock is the Circuit Court Judge in Washington County.
“I told Mr Noel, don’t do anything stupid. Do not try to deceive me or defy me. You will not like the consequences,” said Judge Medlock. “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.”
Noel is facing 25 felony charges and found himself receiving bold statements from Judge Medlock Tuesday.
Noel was facing contempt of court charges after police found firearms inside his residence during a recent search warrant. When Noel posted bond in November following his arrest, Judge Medlock ordered him to surrender all firearms, minus one shotgun.
Prosecutors argue that Noel failed to comply with the conditions of the $75,000 bond posted in November following his arrest. Richard Hertel says it was Noel’s responsibility to comply with the court order and not have guns.
Judge Medlock sentenced Noel to 60 days in jail.
“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? 60 days in.”
Judge Medlock said an independent individual needs to comb through all of Noel’s properties for firearms before he is released.
Noel’s defense attorney, James Voyles, argued Noel made an honest mistake while directing two other people to round up all the guns in his home. Indiana State Police Lt. Jeffrey Hearon, the lead investigator on the case, testified Tuesday that Noel had 82 guns at the time of his arrest.
Noel, along with his wife and daughter, Misty and Kasey, are charged with misusing funds from the Utica Township Fire Department and New Chapel EMS.
