FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2021
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Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
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Alabama Attorney General’s Office Announces Guilty Plea of Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes
(MONTGOMERY) – The Alabama Attorney General’s Office announced this afternoon that former Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes pleaded guilty to two felony counts of an indictment being tried before specially- appointed Lee County Circuit Judge Pamela Baschab.
Hughes pleaded guilty to perjury in the first degree and the use of his public office for personal gain. Hughes will be sentenced at a later date.
Hughes’ plea of guilty came on the second day of testimony during his trial. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Hughes has agreed to a three-year sentence for both counts, split to serve ten months in jail. Additionally, Hughes will be required to pay back the Lee County District Attorney’s Fund $14,000 in legal fees related to the use of his public office for personal gain and to pay restitution to a Chambers County business related to a dismissed charge.
While Hughes previously had been suspended from office as a result of his indictment, the court’s acceptance of his plea of guilty caused his removal from office as a matter of law.
Chief Deputy Attorney General Clay Crenshaw thanked the staff of the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division, specifically Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General Clark Morris, Assistant Attorney General Jasper Roberts, and paralegals Jennifer Means-Marsh and Alana Cammack. He also expressed his appreciation of valuable assistance provided by the Alabama Ethics Commission and the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall recused himself from involvement in the prosecution of Brandon Hughes due to Marshall’s service alongside Hughes in the Alabama District Attorney’s Association.
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