Elizabethtown treasurer arrested, denies wrongdoing

ELIZABETHTOWN – Elizabethtown’s clerk and treasurer denies any wrongdoing after being arrested following a city council meeting Monday night.

Shirley Nugent, 50, was booked into the Bartholomew County Jail at 7:16 p.m. Monday on a preliminary charge of assault, jail officials confirmed. She was released early Tuesday morning on $355 bail.

The arrest appears to be the latest episode in a feud between Nugent and City Councilman Levi Brown that records show dates back to at least October 2021.

The 6 p.m. City Council meeting had already adjourned when Brown said he had some things to discuss, including criticism of a city business that has not been accused of wrongdoing, Nugent said. While she and other council members tried to clear City Hall, Brown refused to leave, the clerk-treasurer said.

Because she was the only one with a key to City Hall at 104 West Street, Nugent felt she had to stay while more allegations were made among those still in the building. She claimed that Levi Brown called the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department and accused her of beating his wife, Brandy Brown. When investigators found a red welt on Brandy Brown’s lower right back, she was arrested, according to Nugent.

There were several recordings of the meeting, including a Facebook live feed, which Levi Brown said corroborate his story.

“(Nugent) was angry and hit my wife,” Brown said. “It wasn’t a real punch or anything. She came from behind and was screaming and cursing.”

Brown said he was made to feel like an outsider on the city council.

“All I try to do on the city council is keep everyone informed and be fair to the city,” Brown said. “They don’t like me and have tried to get rid of me.”

The conflict may date back to when Levi Brown was sued for having too many broken-down vehicles in his yard. Online court documents include a document that lists Brown as the contact person. The document alleges that other council members and city residents are also guilty of violating city ordinances and includes several allegations against Nugent.

According to Nugent, Brown had also made false claims on social media, which led her to sue Levi and Brandy Brown for defamation.

In a mediation agreement entered into on August 25, 2023, in Bartholomew County District Court, the Browns agreed not to make any public statements about Nugent’s past criminal offenses.

They also publicly acknowledged that Nugent had never been charged with a crime against children. However, Nugent himself was ordered to stop making public statements about the Browns.

The agreement also states that the Browns and Nugent may only have contact with each other during city council meetings. Any violation of the agreement carries a $1,000 fine.