FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
September 20, 2013
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Alabama Attorney General
Claire Haynes (334) 242-7351
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WALKER COUNTY DA AND AG STRANGE ANNOUNCE ARREST OF
CARBON HILL MAYOR FOR ALLEGED SEX CRIMES, HARASSMENT
(MONTGOMERY) – Walker County District Attorney Bill Adair and Attorney
General Luther Strange announced the arrest last night of Carbon Hill Mayor James
“PeeWee” Richardson on charges of sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, harassment and
soliciting prostitution. Richardson, 61, was taken into custody by Special Agents of the
Attorney General’s Office and taken to the Walker County Jail.
A joint investigation by the Walker County District Attorney’s Office and the
Attorney General’s Office resulted in evidence that was presented to a Walker County
grand jury. The grand jury returned an indictment* yesterday that charges Richardson
with four counts of first-degree sexual abuse, four counts of custodial sexual
misconduct, two counts of harassment and one count of soliciting prostitution.
Specifically, the indictment charges that Richardson subjected four separate
victims to sexual contact by forcible compulsion and also that he engaged in sexual
conduct with some of the victims while they were in the custody of the Carbon Hill City
Jail. Additionally, Richardson is charged with soliciting prostitution from one of these
four victims. The harassment counts involve acts against two different female victims.
No further information about the investigation or about Richardson’s alleged
crimes other than that stated in the indictment may be released at this time.
If convicted, Richardson faces a maximum penalty of one to ten years for each
count of first-degree sexual abuse and for each count of custodial sexual misconduct,
both of which are class C felonies. Soliciting prostitution is a class A misdemeanor, with
a penalty of up to one year imprisonment, and harassment is a class C misdemeanor,
with a penalty of up to three months imprisonment.
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.
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501 Washington Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
