JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — Former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel pleaded guilty on Monday to 27 felony charges, including theft, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, money laundering, corrupt business influence, and official misconduct.
Noel accepted the plea deal nearly a year after his arrest, which followed a raid by Indiana State Police at his southern Indiana home. Over several years, Noel is accused of misusing public funds to finance a lavish lifestyle, including international trips, luxury vehicles, and a private plane.
As part of the plea agreement, Noel was ordered to pay more than $3.1 million in restitution to four public agencies:
- $2,870,924 to the Utica Township Volunteers Firefighters Association (dba New Chapel EMS)
- $173,155.07 to the Indiana Department of Revenue
- $61,190.77 to the Clark County Sheriff’s Department
- $35,245.60 to Indiana State Police
Coy Travis, the attorney representing New Chapel EMS, described the plea deal as “vindicating.” He added, “This is a day that a lot of us in southern Indiana were looking forward to hearing. It’s a major step for us to begin healing from all the damage that’s been done.”
As part of the plea, four of Noel’s felony ghost employment charges were dismissed. He agreed to serve a total of 15 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections, with three years suspended to probation, and will receive credit for days served, starting June 8, 2024.
Special Prosecutor Ric Hertel remarked that Noel’s 12-year prison sentence, if accepted by the judge, should serve as a significant deterrent against similar misconduct.
Noel has been in custody at the Scott County Jail on a $1.5 million bond, and his jury trial was scheduled to begin in November. Special Judge Larry Medlock has taken the plea deal under advisement and will soon make an official ruling. He expressed a desire to hear from community members who were harmed by Noel’s actions.
“I need EMS workers who have lost their jobs and taxpayers who have been aggrieved by the actions of this individual,” Medlock stated.
Victims affected by Noel’s crimes are encouraged to contact Special Prosecutor Ric Hertel’s office at 812-689-6331.
While Medlock did not set a date for a sentencing hearing on Monday, Hertel noted that it could extend beyond a single day due to the anticipated testimonies from numerous victims.
The extensive investigation into Noel’s corruption revealed that he allegedly used millions of dollars in public funds to support a luxurious lifestyle for himself and his family. Noel served as Clark County Sheriff from 2015 to 2023 and also led New Chapel Fire/EMS and the Utica Township Volunteer Fire Department.
Among the accusations, Noel allegedly used agency credit cards to fund an extensive car collection, pay for an airplane, and cover personal expenses, including rent and college tuition for his children.
Noel was arrested in November 2023 on 15 felony charges related to fraud, misconduct, theft, ghost employment, and public corruption after an extensive investigation. Additional charges for theft and tax evasion were added in early February.
Previously out on a $75,000 cash bond, Noel faced a contempt ruling for having firearms beyond a permitted shotgun. Following this, Medlock increased his bond amount to $1.5 million after new charges were filed against him, keeping him in custody.
An audit released in April of the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association and New Chapel EMS highlighted Noel’s misuse of taxpayer money, detailing expenditures on vacations, luxury items, and personal debts.
The Indiana State Board of Accounts reported that between 2019 and 2023, New Chapel received $3.9 million in public funding while Noel received $582,564 in wages, with auditors suggesting he received even more off the books. The audit indicated that over this period, Noel and his family incurred $4.4 million in charges on a New Chapel EMS American Express card, with Noel responsible for $2 million of that total.
In addition to the restitution from his plea deal, Noel and his family are expected to repay an estimated $4.4 million, as well as $918,000 related to a state audit of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Jail Commissary fund.
A May court ruling prohibited the Noels from selling any assets amid the ongoing investigation, effectively freezing the family’s assets, including cars, homes, jewelry, and clothing.
Since the investigation began last summer, more than 60 search warrants have been made public, outlining substantial evidence gathered in the case.