Indiana sheriff charged with stealing campaign signs

JENNINGS COUNTY, Ind. — A grand jury has indicted the sheriff of Jennings County after an Indiana State Police investigation involving GPS trackers found he had allegedly stolen campaign signs.

William K. “Kenny” Freeman Jr. was indicted last week on charges of theft, official misconduct, obstruction of justice and perjury. Freeman, a 60-year-old from North Vernon, currently serves as the Jennings County Sheriff.

Police officials confirm that an arrest warrant was served Monday morning when Freeman turned himself in at the Ripley County Jail. He was later released on his own recognizance, according to Indiana State Police.

ISP said the arrest comes after a 6-month investigation that began in November 2025, following a candidate for Jennings County Sheriff who reported that his campaign signs had been stolen from local roadways.

The candidate told police he had bought GPS locator devices and put one on a campaign sign. When the sign was subsequently stolen, the device allegedly led straight to a dumpster on Freeman’s property in North Vernon.

State troopers reportedly went to Freeman’s home and found both the sign and the GPS tracker inside his dumpster. Police also found other campaign signs on the property, including one for a Jennings County judge candidate who also reported having signs stolen.

Soon after the signs were found at Freeman’s house, the sheriff allegedly issued a complaint and summons ticket to both political candidates for illegal sign placement.

Once troopers concluded their investigation, protocol called for a special prosecutor and judge, given that the situation involved a current sheriff. Prosecuting attorneys from Dearborn and Ohio counties were selected, as well as Ripley County Superior Judge Jeffrey Sharp.

The case was then presented last Thursday to a Jennings County Grand Jury, which reviewed the evidence and indicted Freeman on the following charges:

Theft – Class A Misdemeanor
- 2 counts
Official Misconduct – Level 6 Felony
Obstruction of Justice – Level 6 Felony
Perjury – Level 6 Felony

Freeman was booked Monday morning into the Ripley County Jail after turning himself in. While ISP has said Freeman was later released on his recognizance, Ripley County officials have not provided any bond information.

ISP Sgt. Stephen Wheeles said that Freeman has waived his right to have an initial hearing in court and that a pre-trial hearing will be scheduled for a later date.

It is currently unclear what the arrest and charges will mean for Freeman’s status as sheriff. FOX59/CBS4 has reached out to Jennings County officials for clarification on Freeman’s future in local law enforcement and have yet to hear back as of this article’s publication.

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Source: Indiana sheriff charged with stealing campaign signs