FRANKFORT, IN — Beyond the roar of a diesel engine rolling through one of a handful of four-way stops around downtown, the city is relatively quiet for a Thursday morning.
But that lack of social activity outside isn’t reflective of the chatter found on social media about allegations surrounding Clinton County Sheriff Richard Kelly and his wife, Ashley.
In 2022, felony conflict-of-interest and official misconduct charges were filed against the couple after an audit by the State Board of Accounts found the Kellys and their business, Leonne LLC, had improperly issued checks from the Clinton County Jail’s commissary fund. In September 2025, a judge ruled that the Kellys must repay the $329,360.47 owed from the audit’s findings.
On April 9 this year, charges against the Kellys were filed in Marion County after Indiana State Police investigators said Ashley had received $205,398.77 in disability payments from the ISP Pension Trust between May 1, 2021, and March 31, 2026 — when doctors’ visits allegedly began to indicate that Ashley’s previously reported injuries to her neck and mouth were not permanent.
Although Richard’s tenure as sheriff ends this year, Ashley is on the Republican ballot in Clinton County as a candidate for sheriff in Tuesday’s primary. Richard is on the ballot, too, as a Republican candidate for Clinton County commissioner.
Clinton County councilwoman Carol Price said at the April Sheriff’s Merit Board meeting that she and other local officials have looked into how a candidate could be removed from the ballot. The only legal way for either of the Kellys to be removed, Price said, is if they are convicted of a felony.
Trials for the couple’s felony charges are scheduled for the coming weeks and months, leaving voters discussing among themselves whether they should continue supporting the Kellys.
Pride in their community dampened by controversy
At the corner of Clinton and Jackson streets along Frankfort’s courthouse square, Chris Tiedman works behind the bar of COCA Craft Coffee & Roasters to pour shots of espresso and plate homemade cinnamon rolls.
Tiedman said he’s new to the Clinton County area, opening the local coffee shop about nine months ago after moving to the area with his wife to be closer to her parents.
Despite being new, Tiedman said he’s kept up on the news stories involving Richard and Ashley Kelly.
“I definitely understand that he and his wife have been indicted. There are a lot of accusations,” Tiedman said. “I am pleased that the local government has taken all of this seriously, because I think that’s something that’s been lacking amongst public officials on a national scale.”
Tiedman said he’s offered his space to local and state politicians, hosting an event for Clinton County sheriff Republican candidate Jake Myers and for Indiana Secretary of State Democratic candidate Beau Bayh.
There hasn’t been much polling or large-scale advertising before the primary in Clinton County, Tiedman said. At least not like what’s been seen in the Republican senate races in Tippecanoe County, where ads for, and against, candidates have flooded social media, TV, texts and mailboxes.
Any contact he’s had with local candidates, Tiedman said, has been organic, helping him get more familiar with Clinton County in the process.
Standing outside the Frankfort Community Public Library with a book that needs returned, Carolyn Bragg said she’s fairly new to the area, too. She knows she plans to vote in the primary, but she is still unsure who she will cast her vote for in the sheriff’s race.
Bragg said she met Richard and Ashley Kelly on the opening day of the new Culver’s restaurant in Frankfort in 2023. Richard introduced himself to her, Bragg said, adding that he was very nice.
Bragg is up to speed on the allegations against the couple, but she’s unsure whether they’re true.
“You know how critical people are,” Bragg said. “I mean, there are people who could look at something and say it’s green and people would find a reason to argue.”
The Kellys have two upcoming trials. The first scheduled for May 11 on the couple’s felony charges of conflict of interest and official misconduct is still awaiting a judge’s decision, scheduled to come on May 4, for whether that trial will be moved out of Clinton County.
On Thursday, special prosecutor Stanley Levco issued a notice to the court that he is agreeable on the Kellys’ change of venue request, as long as it would be in Marion County and if it remains scheduled for May 11.
The Kellys’ second trial is set for July 14 in Marion County, where the couple will face charges for fraud and official misconduct.
Bragg said she’d originally planned to vote for Ashley for sheriff, but now she’s unlikely.
“If I knew more, I would probably vote for the Kellys,” Bragg said. “They’ve said there is so much more going on behind the scenes that we don’t know about. What’s a person to do, really?”
Leaving the library with her four children in tow, all arms filled with books, Bethany Anderson said the controversies that surround the Kellys are a hot topic of conversation in her family, too.
Anderson, an Indianapolis native, said she understands that county residents have strong opinions either way on the Kellys.
“Now that the charges are official … I try to be careful of accusing people of things to not jump on a bandwagon,” Anderson said.
Anderson said she’s enjoyed the move to rural Clinton County, finding that the smaller population has allowed for meaningful friendships to develop and a stronger sense of community.
But among her family members who are native to the area, Anderson said there is a common feeling of betrayal.
“They have a lot of pride in being from here, so hearing these charges come about is pretty shocking,” Anderson said. “Having something like this appear in national news, too, is a bummer.”
Despite strong opinions, some still fear retribution
At the Clinton County Annex, dozens of people file in through the front door to pay their taxes or cast their vote.
People are polite and smile, quick to say good morning or compliment the weather, but as quickly as local politics are mentioned, faces tend to turn sour.
Of those planning to vote, most said they plan to vote in the Republican primary because of a lack of options. When asked to share their thoughts on candidates in the sheriff’s and commissioner’s races, several declined, citing concerns about being sued by the Kellys.
According to court records, since he became sheriff, Richard Kelly has filed two lawsuits against local officials, including the county prosecutor and the county attorney.
In the South Fork Restaurant and Bar in Mulberry, several daily patrons file in for a quick lunchtime bite to eat. Seated at a table on the restaurant’s bar side, two men chatting over lunch, pushing around salads and sandwiches on their plates, said what they’ve read about the Kellys hasn’t surprised them.
One of the men, who asked not to be identified because of connections to the sheriff’s office, said even before the charges were filed against the Kellys, his opinions on their ability to lead had been determined.
“Having been on the inside and seen what’s been going on all along, it’s time for a change,” the man said. “I’m OK with a different direction.”
Had he not known, or seen, as much as he had before the felony charges were filed, the man said the current charges would be enough for him to cast them aside as local candidates.
“If our minds hasn’t been made up prior to the allegations, would the charges have changed my mind? Yeah, probably,” he said. “I think this all has hurt both of their campaigns.”
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 County voters weigh Kelly charges ahead of primary
Reporting by Jillian Ellison, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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