Alabama state lawmaker criticized for honoring KKK founder turns himself in on theft warrant
An Alabama state representative who came under fire last week for honoring Nathan Bedford Forrest — a Confederate army general who founded the Ku Klux Klan — turned himself in to the Montgomery County Detention Facility on Thursday after a warrant was issued for his arrest on first-degree property theft charges.
Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey announced Thursday afternoon that an arrest warrant had been issued for state Rep. Will Dismukes (R).
BREAKING: Rep Will Dismukes turns himself in for theft of prop warrant, he’s accused of embezzling a large sum of money from a former employer @wsfa12news pic.twitter.com/DAcmchpjJF
— Jenn Horton (@JennWSFA) August 7, 2020
The state lawmaker is accused of stealing money from his former employer, a commercial flooring company, according to NBC’s Montgomery, Ala., affiliate. The theft allegedly happened over the course of two years and amounted to more than $2,500.
“After countless hours of investigation, which consisted of witness interviews, obtaining bank records, and gathering other evidence — a decision was made by myself and prosecutors in my office, along with these investigators, that probable cause existed that a crime had been committed,” Bailey said at a press conference.
Dismukes’s attorney Trey Norman accompanied him when he turned himself in, saying that the charges are not related to “Will as a public servant or an elected state official.”
In a tweet, Alabama GOP Chairman Terry Lathan said, “We expect our elected officials, regardless of Party, to follow the laws of our state and nation. No one is immune to these standards. It is very disappointing to hear of these allegations. This is now a legal matter and it must run its course.”
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