Jennings County Sheriff Charged in Theft Case

The charges stem from the theft of campaign signs.

(Jennings County, Ind.) - On Thursday, June 4, a Jennings County Grand Jury indicted Jennings County Sheriff William K. “Kenny” Freeman, Jr, on multiple charges following a six-month investigation. 

In November 2025, Troopers from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post were contacted by a candidate for Jennings County Sheriff, who reported that he had campaign signs stolen from locations along area roadways. As a result, he obtained item locators (GPS devices) and placed a locator in one of his signs. When the sign was subsequently stolen, he observed that the locator indicated the sign was in a dumpster on Freeman’s property.

Troopers responded to Freeman’s property and retrieved the sign and the item locator from Freeman’s dumpster. While at the property, other campaign signs were observed in the dumpster to include a sign for a Jennings County Judge candidate, who also reported having campaign signs stolen.

Soon after troopers located the stolen signs in Freeman’s possession, Freeman issued a complaint and summons (ticket) to both political candidates related to the placement of their signs.

At the conclusion of the investigation, given that this matter involved a current Sheriff, a request was made for both a Special Prosecutor and Judge. The Dearborn and Ohio Counties Prosecuting Attorney Lynn Deddens was appointed along with Ripley County Superior Judge Jeffery Sharp. The Grand Jury reviewed the case and indicted Freeman on two counts of Theft (Class A Misdemeanor), Official Misconduct (Level 6 Felony), Obstruction of Justice (Level 6 Felony), and Perjury (Level 6 Felony)

The arrest warrant on Freeman was served this morning when he turned himself in at the Ripley County Jail and was subsequently released on his own recognizance.

Freeman, 60, of North Vernon, waived his right to have an Initial Hearing on the charges. A pre-trial hearing will be set by the Court.