FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
April 27, 2017
For More Information, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Steven T. Marshall
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
Alabama Attorney General
AG MARSHALL ANNOUNCES COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS UPHOLDS
CONVICTIONS FOR THEFT, FALSE STATEMENTS TO OBTAIN WORKERS’
COMPENSATION BENEFITS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Steven T. Marshall announced that the
Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday upheld convictions for first-degree theft,
second-degree theft, and two counts of making false statements to obtain workers’
compensation benefits. William Randall Burnette was convicted by guilty plea in June
of 2011 in Montgomery County Circuit Court.
At the time of his guilty plea, Burnette stated under oath that he intentionally
made false statements in May and June of 2007 to obtain workers compensation
benefits. He was ordered to pay $4,929 in restitution.
The case was prosecuted at trial by the Attorney General’s Criminal Trials
Division. Burnette was sentenced as a habitual offender to 20 years imprisonment for
each theft conviction and 15 years for each false statement conviction. The trial court
split the sentences and ordered Burnette to serve five years in prison followed by five
years on probation for the theft convictions and three years in prison followed by five
years on probation for the false statement convictions. The trial court also ordered the
sentences to run concurrently. Burnette later challenged these convictions.
The Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Section handled the case during the
appeals process, arguing for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to affirm the
conviction. The Court did so in a decision issued on Friday, April 21.
Attorney General Marshall commended former Assistant Attorney General
Andy Poole of the Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Section, now retired, for his
successful work in handling the appeal, and also Assistant Attorney General Stephanie
Billingslea of the Criminal Trials Division for prosecution of the case.
–30–
501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
