CLARK COUNTY, Ind. — Former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel and his wife Misty Noel appeared in court Monday afternoon less than a week after both were charged with 10 felonies.
Special judge Larry Medlock set Misty's bond at $30,000 cash, which she posted. She was ordered to surrender her passport.
Misty was arrested last Thursday and was held at the Scott County jail until Monday's hearing. Jamey was already out on bond from previous charges and was not re-arrested Thursday.
Judge Medlock said Monday he would have set Jamey's $75,000 cash bond higher in November had he known what he knows now; mainly, that Jamey Noel is accused of spending up to $4.8 million on Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association credit cards for personal items between 2018 and 2023. On Thursday, new affidavits accused Misty Noel of making at least $660,00 worth of personal purchases.
"If I was aware that Mr. Noel had allegedly taken millions and millions of dollars from the firefighter's association, my bond probably would have been substantially higher," Medlock said Monday. The state did not make a motion to revoke or change Jamey's bond.
Medlock said Misty has "had the benefit of all those --allegedly-- millions of dollars that were taken."
The prosecution asked for a bond similar to the one Jamey received in November.
"Similar to Mr. Noel, Mrs. Noel potentially poses a flight risk. While she was here when she was arrested last week, the state would cite a number of factors that there is the possibility of a flight risk. Mrs. Noel certainly has the means to leave the jurisdiction," special prosecutor Ric Hertel said.
The defense asked for nothing higher than a $5,000 cash bond. After taking about 30 seconds to audibly pause and think in the courtroom, Medlock set the bond at $30,000. He later orally added conditions that she turn over her passport, and only travel across the river to Kentucky to meet with lawyers or go to medical appointments.
Jamey is scheduled back in court March 15 and Misty is due back April 9. Hertel said the prosecution will consider a motion to join the two cases together.
Jamey is facing a total of 25 felony charges.
WHAS11 asked Hertel after the hearing for his thoughts on Judge Medlock saying Misty was a beneficiary of the alleged stolen funds, and if it was going to be a big part of their case.
"Well, I believe, as the probable cause affidavit outlines, she was a user and a named card holder, at least to be able to use that. So, I certainly will defer to him (Medlock) whether or not he believes it," Hertel said.
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The state says the Noels did not declare $360,000 of income on their taxes over a five-year period. According to court documents, Jamey and Misty filed joint taxes for the years in question.
They are accused of making false statements on those taxes every year from 2018 to 2022.
Jamey is facing 15 additional felonies, including counts of corrupt business practices, ghost employment, official misconduct, theft and tax evasion. He pleaded not guilty to those charges in November.
Case background
The ISP investigation into Jamey Noel started in June 2023 when authorities believed Noel instructed Clark County jail employees to work on his personal and rental properties, and run errands for him while working on county time and being compensated with public funds.
Noel's vast automobile collection has been under scrutiny by investigators since the beginning of the investigation.
According to court documents, 133 vehicles are registered to the Utica Township Volunteer Fire Department and New Chapel EMS. A review of those vehicles showed several were "inconsistent" with a not-for-profit fire department and EMS business.
Among those 24 vehicles are several Cadillacs, Chevrolet Camaros and Chevrolet Corvettes. Last month, Hearon filed additional probable cause affidavits related to Jamey's vehicles.
Jamey was in charge of the UTVFA until he was ousted earlier this month.
In December, investigators accused Jamey of unlawfully purchasing a Cessna airplane.
The investigation also uncovered Jamey fathered a child with former Clark County Councilwoman Brittney Ferree and paid child support payments with UTVFA funds. In court documents, Lt. Hearon stated he discovered nearly $5 million in personal charges made on UTVFA business credit cards.
Misty was arrested and charged last Thursday. She was held without bond until Monday's court hearing.
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