FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
November 14, 2013
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Alabama Attorney General
Claire Haynes (334) 242-7351
AG ANNOUNCES ARREST OF GEORGIA MAN FOR FELONY
VIOLATION OF THE ALABAMA DIGITAL CRIME ACT
(MONTGOMERY)–Attorney General Luther Strange and Alabama Criminal
Justice Information Center Director Maury Mitchell, a member of the Attorney
General’s Special Prosecution Alliance, announced the arrest of a Georgia man for
felony violations related to attempts to access confidential information systems
maintained by the State of Alabama. Thomas Jack Hixon, 19, of Chickamauga,
surrendered yesterday at the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office.
Attorney General Strange’s Office presented evidence to a Calhoun County
grand jury on October 31 resulting in Hixon’s indictment*. Specifically, the indictment
charges Hixon with one felony count of computer tampering by attempting to access
confidential information from a computer network that is operated by the State. The
indictment also charges Hixon with one felony count of seeking to obtain criminal
offender record information under false pretenses.
If convicted, Hixon faces a penalty of one year and a day to 10 years and a fine of
not more than $15,000 for attempted computer tampering, which is a class C Felony,
and up to five years and a fine of not more than $10,000.00 for seeking to obtain
criminal offender record information under false pretenses, which is an unclassified
felony.
No further information about the investigation or about Hixon’s alleged crimes
other than that stated in the indictment may be released at this time.
The Attorney General commended Assistant Attorney General Pete Smyczek of
the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division, and thanked the Alabama
Criminal Justice Information Center, which investigated the case. The Attorney General
also thanked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Chickamauga Police
Department for their assistance in this case.
*Note: An indictment is merely an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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501 Washington Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov
