Brittney Ferree, a former Clark County Councilwoman, and Noel are parents of a child together. Ferree was recently confronted with legal controversies when she admitted guilt to a single instance of conflict of interest. The allegation led to a Level 6 felony charge against Ferree, but she managed to avoid time behind bars, a scenario that often corresponds to such serious charges.
The conflict of interest accusation against Ferree emerged from an investigation into Noel’s actions. Subsequently, in August last year, she was detained and officially charged. In response, Ferree chose to change her plea to guilty while presenting herself before the Clark County Circuit Court.
Passing Ferree’s sentence was Special Judge Larry Medlock, who decided against prison time. Instead, he made the decision to suspend her two-year prison term to probation, along with dictating a fine sum of $2,000. Additionally, an amount of $189 was assigned as court fees, bringing Ferree’s total financial obligation to $2189.
In his remarks, Judge Medlock emphasized the gravity of Ferree’s actions given her position of trust as a public official. He noted her confession as an acknowledgment of that trust being broken, pointing out the broader implications on public faith in government when officials fail to demonstrate integrity, faithfulness, and principled conduct.
An important aspect factored into the plea agreement was Ferree’s circumstance of being a single mother. The agreement specified no prison time, acknowledging that Ferree was solely responsible for their child’s care. In her statement to the court, she emphasized her solo responsibility for her son and shared that she had never been in similar legal troubles before.
Asked about the lessons drawn from her experience, Ferree expressed a newfound skepticism towards trusting individuals merely because of their law enforcement credentials. This, in context, referred to Noel, who besides fathering a child with Ferree, was at that time Clark County sheriff and had also held the CEO position at an esteemed company.
Documents from the court revealed that Ferree received close to $105,000 in child support payments from Noel. The payments were flagged as they were drawn from funds owned by the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association, which were suspected to have been unethically misappropriated by Noel.
As Special Prosecutor Ric Hertel stated, the presence of a young child between Noel and Ferree influenced the sentencing decision. Investigations revealed that both Ferree and Noel used the association’s funds for personal expenses, including various trips.
It was found that Ferree and Noel had utilized the department’s resources for at least three personal trips. Evidence pointed to their travels to New York City in the spring of 2019, Tampa in May 2022, and lastly to New Orleans in July 2022. The cumulative cost of airfare for these journeys amounted to a little over $2,000.
Asserting the misuse of UTVFA funds, Hearon said that Noel allocated to Ferree an inappropriate total of $114,070. This was used for many purposes including child support, travel excursions, and other miscellaneous expenditures. Further inquiries were also made into a BMW car gifted by Noel to Ferree.
Ferree was under the scanner for her decision-making capabilities too, as it was discovered that she had voted on ordinances related to the UTVFA. She did so without disclosing her close relationship with Noel, another act of conflict of interest.
Following his own guilty pleas to 27 felonies, Noel was subjected to much harsher punishment. His sentence included serving 12 years in prison and paying approximately $3 million in restitution charges.
Noel’s admittance of guilt included the misuse of large sums of money for selfish purposes. The funds, originating from UTVFA credit cards, were spent on luxuries for himself, his family, and friends. This inappropriate expenditure marked a significant account of his financial misconduct.
In conclusion, Ferree’s story serves as a stark reminder of the importance of honesty and integrity in public office. Though she evaded prison, the legal consequences of her actions still stand as a stark warning. Noel’s case, on the other hand, reassures that those who abuse their positions of power are still subject to the rule of law, ensuring justice is served.