Clark County Council at-large member John Miller was taken into custody Friday by Indiana State Police, spokesperson Capt. Ron Galaviz confirmed.
A court administrator said he’s being held without bond and expected to appear for an initial hearing Monday.
Miller is charged with a level 6 felony for conflict of interest related to the more than yearlong criminal investigation of former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel.
Court records released Friday show Miller, as a council member, violated the state’s conflict of interest law by voting to fund New Chapel EMS while also benefiting from Noel and from New Chapel. Noel previously ran that company.
Noel is facing 31 felonies including theft, tax evasion and money laundering related to his time as sheriff and in running the nonprofit emergency services company.
Noel has pleaded not guilty to all counts but will be in court Monday for a plea change hearing. He’s currently in custody on a nearly $1.5 million bond.
Former Clark County Council member Brittney Ferree, who Noel has a child with, is also charged with a level 6 felony, according to Galaviz. He said Friday afternoon they were still actively searching for her to make an arrest.
Search warrant documents released in July show Noel paid for multiple trips with Ferree using funds from New Chapel EMS while she was on the council.
LPM News previously reported Ferree admitted to police she had voted on funding for New Chapel — which until recently served all of Clark County — while she was in a relationship with Noel.
Friday’s records show Miller admitted to accepting meals, concert tickets and travel expenses from Noel. Police say Noel used thousands of dollars in New Chapel money for these gifts.
According to the documents, Miller told state police earlier this year he considered Noel a close friend and that he had persuaded him to run for the county council seat. Noel also previously led the Clark County and Indiana 9th Congressional District Republican parties until he left both amid the investigation.
Records show Clark Councty Council attorney Maxwell McCrite told police in June he provided council members with conflict of interest forms and “is not aware Miller completed one.”
Miller is also a Clarksville police officer. A news release from Chief Nate Walls Friday states that the department is aware of the arrest and allegations against him. It also says they have been “working closely with the Indiana State Police and will follow along with their investigation.”
Town spokesperson Ken Conklin confirmed Friday afternoon Miller was still employed with the police department and remained on paid administrative leave. It’s not clear how long he has been on leave.
Miller’s term on the council is slated to end this year, after he lost his bid for re-election in the primary. Council attorney Maxwell McCrite did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This story has been updated with additional information.
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