Misty Noel, former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel’s wife, was charged Wednesday with five level 5 felonies for theft and five level 6 felonies for tax evasion, spanning several years.
According to a news release from Indiana State Police, she turned herself in Thursday morning after being presented with the charges in court. Jamey Noel was also present. He remains out on bond.
She was transported to the Scott County jail, where she’ll be held without bond until an initial hearing Monday.
The charges come just over two weeks after special prosecutor Ric Hertel said during a hearing he was ready to move forward with charging her.
Jamey Noel served as the Clark County sheriff from 2015 to 2022 and previously operated the nonprofit Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association, also known as New Chapel EMS. He was arrested in November and charged with 15 felonies including theft, corrupt business influence and ghost employment.
On Thursday, Special Judge Larry Medlock approved a motion by Hertel to tack 10 more charges onto Jamey Noel’s original 15 — which are the same as his wife’s.
The latest court records accuse Jamey and Misty Noel of failing to report on their joint tax returns more than $3.4 million in income between 2018 and 2022, generated from sources like property and vehicle sales, pool repairs and American Express charges on Utica/New Chapel accounts used for personal items and services.
This list also includes more than $82,000 paid from Utica/New Chapel funds for support of a child Jamey Noel has with a former Clark County Council member.
Police say the unreported income includes vehicles owned by Utica/New Chapel which Jamey Noel traded or sold for personal gain.
‘Concerning activity’ on accounts associated with nonprofit
As part of the investigation started in June, police subpoenaed records from American Express accounts associated with Jamey Noel.
The records include information from American Express identifying “concerning activity” on three cards, including a Business Gold charge card associated with the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association.
It’s not clear whether the other two cards were also associated with the nonprofit.
Further investigation showed five card holders on American Express accounts linked to Utica/New Chapel: Jamey Noel, Misty Noel, Kasey Noel and Utica/New Chapel board members Matt Owen and Kevin Wilkerson.
The new records show between 2019 and 2023, Misty Noel charged more than $660,000 on American Express accounts associated with the nonprofit.
Purchases included clothing, tanning, manicures and pedicures, food, alcohol, jewelry, trips, college books and “tuition-associated items,” and household goods.
From late 2018 through September 2023, Jamey Noel’s charges added to more than $2.8 million. Purchases included cigars, jewelry, food, alcohol, trips, college books and “tuition-associated items,” medical services, personal taxes, vacation properties and household goods.
Court records show all of Misty Noel’s charges were for personal items or services, and that Jamey Noel’s charges contained personal items and services.
According to the records, “no personal payments were received from Jamey or Misty Noel,” and “all the payments for the items were charged to the Utica Township Volunteer Fire Fighter Association.”
Court records also show prior to August 2023, there had not been a Utica/New Chapel board meeting in several years, and that Noel had “acted independently absent board participation.” Investigators say after August 2023, the board, which included some new members, signed a facility use agreement allowing Jamey Noel to lease his pole barn to Utica/New Chapel, in exchange for the nonprofit paying for utilities and improvements there.
Investigators say Utica/New Chapel and associated businesses receive around $2 million in public funds annually.
What’s next
Misty Noel’s case was referred to the Indiana Supreme Court to appoint a special judge. Online court records show Special Judge Larry Medlock, who is also presiding over Jamey Noel’s case, had been appointed as of Thursday afternoon.
Misty and Jamey Noel are both scheduled for an initial hearing on the new charges at 3 p.m. Monday.
There have now been 35 publicly known search warrants served in Jamey Noel’s case, including some in which investigators sought financial information on Misty Noel. The latest warrants were served last Friday at fire and EMS stations in Clark and Floyd counties.
This story has been updated with additional information.
Coverage of Southern Indiana is funded, in part, by Samtec Inc., the Hazel & Walter T. Bales Foundation, and the Caesars Foundation of Floyd County.
