JEFFERSONVILLE – Jamey Noel, a former Indiana sheriff, is facing 31 felony charges and has recently requested a change in his original not-guilty plea.
Although his defense attorney, Zachary Stewart, has requested a change of plea hearing, the new plea has not yet been specified. The hearing will be scheduled at the court’s earliest convenience in Clark County Circuit Court. This development could indicate a potential shift in Noel’s defense’s legal strategy.
Special Prosecutor Ric Hertel Noel will be “admitting guilt to crimes he’s committed,” and a sentencing date will be set Monday. The change of plea hearing is set for today at 11 a.m.
On Friday, Clarksville Police Officer and Clark County Councilman John Miller was arrested concerning the investigation. An arrest warrant was also issued for former Councilwoman Brittney Ferree.
Noel is facing 31 felony charges, including theft, tax evasion, corrupt business practices, ghost employment, official misconduct, and money laundering.
The ISP investigation began in June 2023 following allegations that Noel directed jail staff to work on his personal property and run personnel errands while on county time.
Misty Noel, the wife of former Indiana sheriff Jamey Noel, has pleaded not guilty to 10 felony charges, including five counts of theft and five counts of tax evasion. Their daughter, Kasey Noel, has also pleaded not guilty to nine felonies, comprising five counts of theft and four counts of tax evasion.
According to previous court documents, the Noel family allegedly made millions of dollars in personal purchases using credit cards from the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighter Association (UTVFA). They are also accused of failing to report income on their taxes over a five-year period. Jamey Noel had managed the UTVFA for many years until the board removed him from his position in January.
In March, investigators discovered that Jamey and Misty had charged over $100,000 in tuition and education-related expenses to UTVFA credit cards. As a result, authorities sought permission to search Indiana University records related to their other daughters, Josey and Gracy Noel, who are currently enrolled at IU campuses. By April, Indiana State Police reported that the family had spent over $300,000 on vacations using fire department funds without providing reimbursement. On April 9, Jamey Noel was sentenced to 60 days in jail after a judge found him in contempt of court for possessing firearms in violation of his bond conditions.
Additionally, the investigation revealed that Jamey Noel fathered a child with former Clark County Councilwoman Brittney Ferree and made child support payments using UTVFA funds. In July, it was disclosed that he had spent $104,971.51 in department funds on child support between March 2020 and September 2023
