NORTH VERNON — Following a meticulous six-month investigation by the Indiana State Police, a Jennings County grand jury has indicted sitting Sheriff William “Kenny” K. Freeman, Jr. on multiple criminal charges, including official misconduct and theft.
The indictment, handed down on Thursday, June 4, 2026, stems from allegations that the 60-year-old sheriff targeted and stole roadside campaign signs belonging to political rivals.
The investigation officially concluded this morning when Freeman turned himself in at the Ripley County Jail. He was processed on an outstanding arrest warrant and subsequently released on his own recognizance. Freeman has since waived his right to an initial hearing, and a pre-trial hearing will be scheduled by the court in the coming weeks.
The case against the county’s top law enforcement official began in November 2025. According to Detective Tim Denby of the Indiana State Police Special Investigations Section, an opposing candidate running for Jennings County Sheriff contacted the ISP Versailles Post to report a pattern of disappearing roadside campaign signs.
Hoping to catch the perpetrator, the candidate purchased GPS tracking devices and concealed an item locator inside one of his newly placed signs.
When that sign vanished shortly after, the candidate tracked the real-time GPS signal directly to a dumpster located on Sheriff Freeman’s private property.
State police troopers responded to the residence and searched the dumpster, successfully recovering the stolen campaign sign and the active GPS device. While searching the container, investigators discovered a cache of other missing political signs, including advertising material belonging to a Jennings County judicial candidate who had also reported recent thefts.
According to court records, immediately after state troopers discovered the stolen property in his dumpster, Sheriff Freeman used his official authority to issue a complaint and summons (ticket) to both of the affected political candidates. The citations alleged that the victims had unlawfully placed their signs along the roadways.
Because the target of the criminal investigation was an active county sheriff, state officials appointed a neutral, outside legal team to oversee the prosecution to prevent conflicts of interest. Lynn Deddens, the Prosecuting Attorney for Dearborn and Ohio counties, was selected as the Special Prosecutor, while Ripley County Superior Judge Jeffery Sharp was appointed to preside over the case.
After reviewing evidence presented by the Special Prosecutor on June 4, the Jennings County Grand Jury indicted Freeman on a combination of felony and misdemeanor offenses:
- Official Misconduct, a Level 6 Felony
- Obstruction of Justice, a Level 6 Felony
- Perjury, a Level 6 Felony
- Theft – Two counts, Class A misdemeanors
If convicted of a Level 6 felony in Indiana, Freeman could face a sentencing range of six months to two and a half years in prison per count. Under Indiana law, a conviction for official misconduct also automatically disqualifies an individual from holding public office.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent until proven guilty through a fair and due legal process. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
