Albama AG Announces Arrest Of Washington County Commissioner For Multiple Counts Of Felony Ethics, Forgery And Theft Charges

August 24, 2007 -- (MONTGOMERY) — Alabama Attorney General Troy King announced the arrest today of a Washington County Commissioner for multiple felony counts of ethics, forgery and theft charges. Willie Lewis Dixon, 56, of St. Stevens, was arrested by agents of the Attorney General's Office and the Washington County Sheriff's Office, and taken to the Washington County Jail.

Attorney General King's Office presented evidence to a Washington County grand jury on August 21, 2007, resulting in Dixon's indictment for two counts of second-degree theft, three counts of ethics law violation, one count of second-degree forgery, and one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument. Specifically, the indictment charges that Dixon committed:

• One count of second-degree theft of an M4050 Kubota tractor that was the property of the Washington County Commission and was valued between $500 and $2,500;

• One count of intentionally using his public position as county commissioner for the unlawful personal gain of an M4050 Kubota tractor;

• One count of second-degree theft of a check or proceeds of a check that belonged to the Washington County Commission and was valued between $500 and $2,500;

• One count of intentionally using his public position as county commissioner for the unlawful personal gain of a check of the Washington County Commission for $700;

• One count of second-degree forgery of an auto salvage invoice to the Washington County Commission in support of a purchase requisition;

• One count of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, an auto salvage invoice to the Washington County Commission in support of a purchase requisition, with the knowledge that it was forged; and

• One count of intentionally using his public position as county commissioner for the unlawful personal gain of an automobile electric door switch.

"It is extremely serious and disturbing when a public official is accused of violating the laws he has sworn to uphold and of stealing from the people who he was entrusted to serve," said Attorney General King. "This is another of many public corruption cases brought by my office and it should serve as assurance to the citizens of Alabama that I remain steadfast in my commitment to enforce the law based upon the facts and the evidence, and with no regard for an individual's position or power."

Attorney General King thanked Washington County Sheriff Richard Stringer for the assistance of his office. He also commended the Attorney General's Investigations Division and the Public Corruption and White Collar Crime Division.

No further information about the investigation or about Dixon's alleged crimes other than that stated in the indictment may be released at this time.

If convicted, Dixon faces a maximum penalty of two to 20 years imprisonment and fines of up to $10,000 for each of the ethics violation counts, which are class B felonies; one to 10 years imprisonment and fines of up to $5,000 for each of the second-degree theft counts, which are class C felonies; one to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000 for the second-degree forgery count, a class C felony; and one to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000 for the second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument count, also a class C felony.

Furthermore, Section 36-9-2 of the Code of Alabama states that when an officeholder is convicted of a felony, the office is vacated from the time of conviction.

*An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Source: Alabama Attorney General

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •