JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — A Clark County employee involved in the investigation into former sheriff Jamey Noel has been suspended.
Clark County Auditor Danny Yost confirmed Monday to WHAS11 Chief Deputy Auditor Jessica Huffman was recently suspended while the office "does its due diligence." Huffman's phone was seized by Indiana State Police investigators after text messages showed a relationship with Noel and conversations about elements of the active investigation.
Yost did not specify whether the suspension is paid or unpaid.
Lead investigator Lt. Jeffrey Hearon released a new probable cause affidavit last Thursday saying he seized a white iPhone belonging to Huffman to conduct a further search of its messages and other data. A text chain showed Noel and Huffman had extensive conversations regarding a pension for Bradley Kramer, a former Clark County Sheriff's Office employee who is also Jamey's brother-in-law.
A key part of the investigation includes whether or not Noel altered records to secure a pension for Kramer to which he was not entitled.
In January, ISP said they believed either Kramer or Noel altered documents to indicate Kramer held the position since Jan. 1, 2015, making him eligible for a deputy merit pension. In the new documents, Kramer told investigators handwriting on some records was not his and some of his personal information was wrong.
When Deputy Chief Mark Grube reached out to Huffman about discrepancies on Kramer's records in June 2023, Huffman texted Jamey Noel "His email tells me- you are probably right."
Hearon and a detective spoke to Huffman April 30 at the Clark County Auditor's Office and asked why she sent the screenshot. Huffman told them she was trying to conduct her own inquiry and "wanted to see what Mr. Noel's reaction would be" when he saw the email.
Huffman initially refused a review of her messages, but later agreed after speaking with an attorney.
According to the court document released Thursday, the messages also revealed a three-year relationship between Noel and Huffman that included tickets to Cincinnati Reds games and meeting for drinks at a Jeffersonville bar. Hearon also stated the two often discussed the ongoing ISP and State Board of Accounts investigation up until October 2023.
Huffman told investigators Noel used other phone numbers and messaging applications to communicate with her after October 2023.
ISP has been investigating Noel since last June. He pleaded not guilty to 25 felonies.
His wife Misty Noel and their daughter Kasey Noel are also facing several felony charges.
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