FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2021
For press inquiries only, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Attorney General Steve Marshall Announces Indictment of Former Barbour County Sheriff on Ethics Charges
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the indictment of Leroy Davie Upshaw, a former sheriff of Barbour County, for the intentional use of his public position for personal gain. Upshaw, 49, of Eufaula, was previously arrested by warrants in September 2020 and was released on a bond totaling $30,000 that remains in effect. His term as sheriff ended in January 2019.
Attorney General Marshall’s Special Prosecutions Division presented evidence to a Barbour County grand jury, resulting in Upshaw’s indictment* on March 5. Specifically, the indictment charges Upshaw with two counts of violating the state ethics law, one for intentionally using his public position to obtain personal gain for himself, and one for intentionally using his public position for personal gain of his family members. The charges in the indictment are the same as the charges previously brought by warrants.
No further information about the investigation or about Upshaw’s alleged crimes other than that stated in the indictment may be released at this time.
If convicted, Upshaw faces a maximum penalty of two to 20 years for each count of the alleged ethics violation, which is a class B felony.
*An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
–30–
