Disgraced Republican Sheriff Jamey Noel Sentenced to 15 Years in ‘Largest Public Corruption Case’ in Indiana History

Today, the years of brazen corruption caught up with Republican former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison and millions in fines in what the judge called likely the largest public corruption case in state history.

Noel pleaded guilty to 27 felony counts in August for stealing millions of taxpayer dollars from Utica Volunteer Fire Association and New Chapel EMS to fund a lavish lifestyle of vacations and luxury vehicles – even a private plane.

Noel was the Chairman of the Indiana 9th District Republican Party until earlier this year, and the case uncovered that he used at least $33,000 in taxpayer dollars to fund Republican campaigns in Southern Indiana. The vast majority of those candidates have not returned the money or donated it to charity. This includes current U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin, Scott Hawkins, who is again the Republican nominee for state representative in District 71 – a race he lost by only a few dozen votes in 2022. 

“Jamey Noel committed the largest theft of taxpayer dollars by an elected official in state history to fund a life of vacations and luxury while his Republican friends looked on and elevated him to the top of their party,” said Indiana Democratic Party Chair MIke Schmuhl. “What Noel did was truly shocking, but it is the type of corruption that is allowed to fester after twenty years of one-party control in our state. In this case, our justice system worked, but the damage Noel did cannot be undone.

“The fact that Scott Hawkins, Erin Houchin, and most Republicans still haven’t returned the money received from Noel should serve as a major red flag for Hoosier voters. Hoosiers deserve fresh leadership at all levels that will protect taxpayers and end the cycle of Republican corruption in our state.”