Clinton County adopts stricter nepotism ordinance and terminates jail matron

The Clinton County Board of Commissioners voted 3–0 April 21 to adopt Ordinance 2026-02, a revised countywide nepotism policy and immediately terminate the county-employed jail matron, Ashley Kelly.

The ordinance, read in full at the meeting, tightens definitions of "relative" and "direct line of supervision," requires elected officials to file written disclosure statements under penalty of perjury for contracts involving relatives, and directs annual certifications that officers have not violated the policy. The measure cites Indiana Code 36-1-20.2 as authority for a county to adopt a more stringent nepotism policy.

Board leadership framed the change as necessary after a string of internal problems in the sheriff’s office and referenced recent felony charges and purchase orders connected to alleged misconduct. The presiding commissioner said the action was taken "first and foremost" to protect workplace safety for jail staff and to address reported financial irregularities, including an alleged $219,000 shortfall in a commissary account.

Commissioner Weaver said the policy is intended to prevent conflicts that make it difficult for departments to operate fairly when close relatives work together. "This is the path that they've chosen," Weaver said, describing the amendment as overdue. Another commissioner noted the county has been constrained by an antiquated appointment statute and that court guidance from a Tippecanoe County case gave the board a blueprint for amending its policy.

The board also approved a termination letter for Ashley Kelly and instructed county staff to coordinate collection of county property and to bar on-site and remote access to county systems for the terminated employee. Commissioners authorized county counsel to prepare a letter for Chief Deputy Sean Mayfield asking him to enforce the access restrictions and to work with Detective Dan Roudebush on retrieval of county property.

Separately, the board voted to ask the Clinton County Council and the county's merit board to review police pension language and consider a "bad boy" clause that would withhold retirement benefits after a criminal conviction. The commissioners also directed staff to pursue a request to the state attorney general to begin garnishing wages from Richard Kelly to recover an alleged $219,000 owed to the county's commissary account.

All motions tied to the ordinance, the termination letter and the follow-up recommendations passed unanimously. The board said it will draft and send formal letters to relevant entities and the court as needed; specific procedural steps and timelines were not specified at the meeting.

The ordinance text and related disclosure procedures were adopted as county policy effective immediately; the board indicated additional implementation steps and communications will follow.