FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
August 20, 2015
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
AG ANNOUNCES THEFT CONVICTION OF FORMER JUDICIAL
ASSISTANT FOR CALHOUN COUNTY DISTRICT COURT
(MONTGOMERY)–Attorney General Luther Strange announced the
conviction today of a former judicial assistant for the Calhoun County District Court
for second-degree theft charges. Melody Warren, 53, of Oxford, pleaded guilty in
Calhoun County Circuit Court. She was sentenced to 31 months, which was
suspended, placed on probation for three years and ordered to pay restitution in the
amount of $4,136.
The Attorney General’s Office presented evidence to a Calhoun County grand
jury in August of 2014, resulting in Warren’s indictment. According to information
presented by the prosecution at Warren’s plea hearing, she acted in her position as
judicial assistant to inappropriately take money from people who had cases before
the District Court. Rather than turning the money into the Clerk’s Office, she kept it.
“It is always a serious crime when someone betrays the public trust to steal
taxpayers’ money,” said Attorney General Strange. “I am pleased that this
defendant no longer is in a position to do so, that she has been held to account for
her crime, and that she will be required to repay the money that she stole.”
Attorney General Strange commended those involved in bringing this case to
a successful conclusion, noting in particular Assistant Attorney General Bill Lisenby
of his Criminal Trials Division and Special Agents of his Special Prosecutions
Division. He thanked the Calhoun County District Attorney’s Office for its
assistance.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
