Office of the Attorney General: A.G. KING ANNOUNCES ETHICS, THEFT INDICTMENT OF TALLAPOOSA COUNTY EMPLOYEE

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

August 20, 2008

For More Information, Contact:
Joy Patterson 334.242.7491
Suzanne Webb 334.242.7351


(MONTGOMERY)—Attorney General Troy King announced the arrest today of a Tallapoosa County maintenance department employee for felony charges of ethics law violation and first-degree theft. Michael A. Lucas, also known as Mike Lucas, 50, of Alexander City, surrendered at the Tallapoosa County Sheriff's office and was released on $30,000 bond.

Attorney General King's Office presented evidence to a Tallapoosa County grand jury on July 30, resulting in Lucas' indictment* on August 12. Specifically, the indictment charges Lucas with two counts of first-degree theft of currency or checks valued at more than $2,500 that were the property of the Tallapoosa County Commission; and, with one count of violating the ethics law by intentionally using his official position as a Tallapoosa County public employee for the unlawful personal gain of currency or checks which were the property of the Tallapoosa County Commission.

"Any time a public employee is accused of misuse of his or her public position, or theft of public funds, it is a sad and serious matter," said Attorney General King. "As Attorney General, I am committed to investigate such cases, and where evidence warrants, to prosecute on behalf of the citizens of Alabama."

No further information about the investigation or about Lucas' alleged crimes other than that stated in the indictment may be released at this time.

If convicted, Lucas faces a maximum penalty of two to 20 years imprisonment and fines of up to $30,000 for each of the three charges, which are class B felonies.

Attorney General King commended Assistant Attorney General Bill Lisenby, chief of his Public Corruption and White Collar Crime Division; Assistant Attorney Noel Barnes, also of the Public Corruption and White Collar Crime Division; and Special Agent Bob Caviness of the Attorney General's Investigations Division; for their work on this case.

*An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.