FRANKFORT, IN — Just minutes after the Clinton County commissioners voted unanimously to approve a nepotism policy for county employees, effectively firing Jail Matron Ashley Kelly, commissioner Bert Weaver said Sheriff Richard Kelly moved to cancel the county’s federal inmate program.
Weaver said he was informed by a deputy in the sheriff’s office shortly after the commissioners’ Tuesday morning meeting that Richard Kelly had cancelled the contract for the federal inmate program “immediately.”
Emails to Richard Kelly on Tuesday for questions asking for verification that the contract was canceled and why were not immediately returned.
The Clinton County Jail houses more than 30 federal inmates, Weaver said, bringing revenue on average of about $100,000 a month to the county.
Weaver said the cancelation of that contract and thus drop in revenue will likely result in job cuts to the jail, resulting in an estimated loss of 10 to 12 jail employees.
“This tells us how nice it is that he thinks of the county. It’s all about revenge rather than looking out for the county’s best interests,” Weaver said. “This is going to have a major effect on employees.”
Weaver said since the program was initiated during Kelly’s tenure as sheriff, the commissioners have not seen a copy of the federal contract, despite multiple requests.
“Technically, commissioners are supposed to sign all of those contracts, but (the Kellys) claim it’s theirs only,” Weaver said. “He has always held this over our heads saying that he could cancel this if he wanted to. Other counties around the state are housing federal inmates, too. It’s not a new program, but it’s a funding operation for us to enjoy as a county, and it employs people, too.”
The commissioners voted unanimously to approve an ordinance establishing a countywide nepotism policy, moving to enact the new policy immediately.
After the policy was approved, commissioners signed a formal termination letter for Ashley Kelly. Commissioners President Jordan Brewer said now that she no longer has contractual interest with the Clinton County Jail or the sheriff’s office, she is banned from the property.
“As such, you’re prohibited from being in or on the described premise and entry by yourself would be considered criminal trespass. Any remote off site, electronic access to the premise, record recordings, documents or the like, shall also be prohibited,” Brewer said, addressing Ashley Kelly, who was not at the meeting. “You will have 24 hours from today to make arrangements with Chief Deputy Shawn Mayfield as well as Detective Dan Roudebush to collect all your personal items and turn in all county-issued property. This is your fobs, keys, laptops, phones, passwords, any of the likes.”
Brewer said that for years, county leaders have had to deal with the “shade” thrown by residents who have supported the Kellys through allegations, including a judge’s order that the couple repay more than $329,000 to the county after an audit by the State Board of Accounts found the couple and their business had improperly issued checks from the jail commissary fund.
But during Richard and Ashley’s initial hearing on April 14 for new felony charges that allege the couple defrauded the Indiana State Police Pension Trust by faking Ashley’s debilitating injuries, a lawyer representing the Kellys told a judge that the four Clinton County deputies listed as witnesses in the case would work from home for the time being.
Brewer said that was incorrect and in violation of the county’s policies.
“For the four individuals that work in the jail, how are they expected to work from home?” Brewer asked. “It’s nearly impossible. Are they supposed to take inmates home with them? Do we have detectives that are supposed to take cocaine home with them? That’s against the law, right? It breaks the chain of command, so I don’t think there was ever any voluntary work from home that was expressed by these individuals.”
In connection to the resolution establishing the nepotism policy, commissioners also unanimously approved a request for county attorney Tom Little to draft a letter to Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita to initiate the garnishment of wages from Richard Kelly toward the $329,000 owed in restitution.
“Again, this has gone on way too long,” Brewer said, “and at some point there should be some consideration of interest of being a part of getting that money back and into the commissary account so it can do the work it’s supposed to do for that department, for that facility and for the deputies that work in this county.”
Weaver said it has been difficult watching Richard and Ashley Kelly take vacations out of state, pointing to photo evidence used in the most recent felony charges against the couple, while the county is owed restitution.
The commissioners also voted to unanimously approve a resolution to recommend that the Clinton County Council and the Sheriff’s Merit Board review their police pension policy to implement a “bad boy” clause, a term Brewer said was coined by the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association.
The clause would prevent a sheriff from receiving retirement benefits after a criminal conviction, Brewer said, even if service requirements have been previously met.
Commissioner Kevin Myers said his chief concern is for the employees in the county jail.
“It’s sad that this has happened. Actually, if you go back in time and look, it was all unnecessary,” Myers said. “But this is the path that (the Kellys) have chosen. So, I think this is what we have to do.”
Ashley Kelly is still listed on the Clinton County ballot for the May 5 primary election as a candidate for sheriff against two other candidates, Brendon Bright and Jacob Myers. Rich Kelly is running for District 3 commissioner against fellow Republican Jordan Brewer.
Jillian Ellison is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. She can be reached via email at jellison@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Clinton Co. sheriff cancels federal inmate program after wife’s firing
Reporting by Jillian Ellison, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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