Former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel pleaded guilty to 27 of 31 felony charges in court Monday as part of a plea deal in a massive corruption case that could land him in prison for more than a decade. Noel, a prominent Hoosier Republican , was charged with more than two dozen felonies for allegedly misusing money from the fire and EMS departments which he oversaw. A plea agreement submitted to the Clark County Circuit Court shows Noel agreed to plead guilty to charges of theft, money laundering, corrupt business influence, official misconduct, obstruction of justice and tax evasion.

Four charges of ghost employment were dismissed as part of the agreement. Noel faces a 15-year prison sentence but with three of those years suspended to probation if the deal is approved by the judge, according to the plea agreement. He would get credit for time served, beginning June 8.

Special Judge Larry Medlock, of Washington County, said Monday he wants to hear from victims affected by Noel’s actions before making a decision. Special Prosecutor Ric Hertel, of Ripley County, said in a news briefing after the plea hearing that a sentencing hearing could take more than a day to allow for victims to testify in open court. “I think that an agreement to 15 years of sentence — at least proposing to the court and the judge — we’ve come a long way since the initial hearing back in November of 2023,” Hertel said.

“I feel like there’s been a lot of time and a lot of effort and a lot o.