CLARK COUNTY, Indiana — Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a new lawsuit against former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel, Kenneth Hughbanks and Auto-Owners Insurance Company.
Noel is facing 25 felony charges, including counts of theft, tax evasion, corrupt business practices, ghost employment and official misconduct.
Hughbanks, the former Scott County Sheriff and friend of Noel's, failed to report over $200,000 in income on his taxes, although he has not been charged in the investigation.
The state is requesting Noel and Hughbanks to repay any "unsupported payments from public funds."
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Rokita has also asked the judge to temporarily freeze Noel's ability to sell any property, including his real estate properties, cars and other vehicles, clothing, jewelry and artwork. The state also wants to freeze Noel from using any cash, stocks or bonds and bank accounts due to the possibility of there being public funds tied up in the accounts.
In a recent audit, the State Board of Accounts ordered Noel to repay nearly $3.5 million in "unlawful" charges during his time running the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighter Association, a non-profit fire and EMS service.
His wife Misty and daughter Kasey are also facing numerous felonies and have been ordered to repay hundreds of thousands of dollars as well.
Watch the WHAS11 special report on the Noel investigation:
CASE BACKGROUND
Jamey Noel is facing 25 felony charges, including counts of theft, tax evasion, corrupt business practices, ghost employment and official misconduct. The ISP investigation began in June 2023 following allegations that Noel directed jail staff to work on his personal property and run his personal errands while on county time.
His wife Misty Noel is facing 10 felonies; five counts of theft and five counts of tax evasion.
Daughter Kasey Noel is facing nine felonies; five counts of theft and four counts of tax evasion.
According to previous court documents, Hearon found millions of dollars of personal purchases made by all three on Utica Township Volunteer Firefighter Association credit cards. He also stated they failed to disclose income on their taxes over a five-year span.
Jamey ran UTVFA until January when he was ousted by the board.
In March, investigators uncovered over $100,000 in tuition and education-related payments were made from the cards by Jamey and Misty. Hearon asked a judge for permission to search Indiana University records regarding Josey and Gracy Noel -- Jamey and Misty's other daughters who are currently enrolled at IU campuses.
In April, ISP said the family spent over $300,000 on vacations using fire department funds without reimbursement. Noel was ordered to serve 60 days in jail on April 9 after a judge found him in contempt of court for having firearms in his home in violation of his bond conditions.
The investigation also uncovered Jamey fathered a child with former Clark County Councilwoman Brittney Ferree and paid child support payments with UTVFA funds.
Jamey 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.
Jamey is accused of orchestrating a vehicle trading and selling scheme where he traded in several cars registered to the UTVFA for vehicles he then registered to himself for personal use. In some cases, he allegedly sold them and pocketed the money.
Court documents released in early March indicated 26 containers of military surplus equipment belonging to the Clark County Sheriff's Office were found on a property in Deputy, Indiana. Hearon alleged Noel sold multiple items belonging to the sheriff's office and sold them for personal gain.
The investigation has also focused on former Scott County Sheriff Kenneth Hughbanks, a friend and associate of Jamey's. Hearon said Hughbanks failed to report over $200,000 in income on his taxes. He has not been charged.
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