WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ind. (WDRB) -- A court ruling issued Monday prohibits former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel and his family from selling any of their assets.
Attorney General Todd Rokita asked a judge to issue an injunction and a restraining order to stop Noel, and his family, from selling assets such as cars, homes, jewelry and clothing. It's part of the state's civil suit against Noel to recover millions in alleged misused public money.
Noel stepped into a Washington County courtroom for a hearing on Monday wearing a black and white striped jumpsuit.
His wife Misty Noel, and their three daughters, were in the audience for the hearing, which mostly focused on Misty.
A judged asked Misty Noel if she filed for duplicate titles for several cars that had her listed as a co-owner. She said she did, and told the court it was not to sell the cars, but to find out what assets are in her name.
Misty Noel and their three daughters agreed with the attorney general's restraining order during Monday's hearing to not sell any of their assets until the civil case is resolved.
According to court documents, the family sold a home on Court Avenue in Jeffersonville in March, and has taken steps to sell 21 vehiclesafter Jamey and Misty were criminally charged.
Rokita wants to stop the sale of any cars, homes, guns, planes, boats, clothing, jewelry or art, among other property, so all public funds can be paid back. Ultimately, the judge issued the temporary restraining order to block sales of the Noel family's assets, which are now frozen.
Jamey Noel has been asked by the state to pay back more than $4 million he's accused of using from New Chapel EMS and the Utica Fire Department, which he used to run.
Earlier this month, Rokita filed a complaint to receive those public funds back from Noel. Additionally, the state is trying to get back public funds that were paid to Kenneth Hughbanks and his companies. According to court documents, funds from the Clark County Sheriff's Department Jail Commissary Fund were paid to one of Hughbanks' companies - Hughbanks Enterprises, LLC - ranging from $1,500 to $3,500 per month, from December 2015 to October 2022.
Because of the misspending of the Jail Commissary Fund, Jamey Noel is asked to pay back nearly $500,000, and Hughbanks is asked to pay back almost $300,000. They both also have to cover the cost of theIndiana State Board of Accounts auditof the Commissary Fund, which is an additional $145,000.
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This money is in addition to the $4.4 million Jamey Noel is being ordered to pay back to New Chapel EMS.
The former sheriff faces two dozen felony charges, including theft, ghost employment, official misconduct and tax evasion.
Misty Noel and their daughter, Kasey, are also charged in the investigation.
Investigators believe they racked up millions of dollars in charges on items such as cars, planes, vacations and clothing with taxpayer money.
Jamey Noel remains in the Scott County Jail, serving a 60-day sentence after being held in contempt of court for not following the conditions of his release.
Following his November 2023 arrest, the former sheriff had been free on a $75,000 cash bond since his first court appearance. One of the conditions of his bond prohibited him from possessing any firearms aside from a shotgun allowed for "personal protection." But when Indiana State Police investigators conducted a search of Noel's home, they found two handguns.
Noel, his wife, Misty, and daughter, Kasey, have all pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
A jury trial for Jamey Noel is scheduled to begin in November.
More Jamey Noel Coverage:
- Indiana Attorney General files complaint to receive public funds back from Jamey Noel
- Investigators seize items from now former Clark County deputy auditor in ongoing Jamey Noel investigation
- Judge doesn't extend 60-day jail punishment for former sheriff Jamey Noel
- State asks Jamey Noel to pay back $4.4 million to New Chapel EMS for 'unlawful' purchases
- ISP seizes classic cars from property of former sheriff Jamey Noel, accused of buying them with taxpayer money
- 'Not above the law' | Jamey Noel headed back to jail for 60 days following contempt hearing
- Judge orders Jamey Noel taken into custody after contempt of court hearing
- Jamey Noel accused of charging more than $350,000 in vacations, cigars on Utica Fire credit cards
- Investigators looking into whether Jamey Noel used New Chapel credit card for daughters' college tuition
- Jamey Noel ordered to appear in court after investigators find guns he wasn't supposed to have
- New Chapel Fire and EMS suing former chief Jamey Noel for credit card spending
- New search warrant accuses Jamey Noel of using fire department funds for high-end clothing
- Judge sets $20,000 full cash bond for daughter of former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel
- Daughter of former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel arrested, faces 9 felony charges
- Police find 26 shipping containers of missing government surplus property in Jamey Noel investigation
- Investigators looking into whether millions in credit card charges linked to Jamey Noel were paid with public funds
- State agency asking former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel to reimburse $918,000
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