A former Jefferson County constable charged with five felony counts agreed to a plea deal convicting him of one misdemeanor charge.
Jonathan Barbee, who owns Barbee Media Group, pleaded guilty to failing to file taxes.
Barbee was initially charged in 2022 with two ethics charges and three charges of felony tax evasion after a joint investigation between the Attorney General’s Office and the Alabama Department of Revenue. However, the Attorney General’s Office agreed to dismiss those charges in exchange for a guilty plea to the lesser charge.
Attorney Matt Hart told 1819 News that Barbee was over a year late, paying around $1,670 in taxes he owed for 2018.
“After many months of grinding investigative activity, the State of Alabama charged my client, Jonathan Barbee, with five felonies involving ethics and tax matters,” Hart said in a statement to 1819 News. “This came after a panel of three experienced Circuit Court Judges, appointed by the Alabama Supreme Court, found no probable cause that the ethics laws had been violated and closed the matter.”
“Inexplicably, the State charged Barbee anyway,” Hart continued. “Jonathan Barbee was actually innocent of all charges in the indictment, and the proof is — finally — in the pudding.”
Hart, who is well known for leading the team of prosecutors in the ethics case against former Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard, said he has represented many clients and prosecuted many public figures, but he has never seen someone in a similar situation being treated this way. He said that, generally, when people miss taxes, they receive a letter and a fee, not felony charges.
Hart said he believes Barbee was abused without cause. He said the investigation was extremely damaging to his client, his business and his family.
“In my many years as a State and Federal prosecutor, and now as a defense attorney, I have never seen an Indictment that was less supported by the facts and the law,” said Hart. “Now, I intend to determine why this unfounded and irregular investigation and prosecution was conducted in the first place.”
Hart added that the charge Barbee pleaded guilty to was a non-moral turpitude misdemeanor.
As part of the plea deal, Barbee was sentenced to a 12-month suspended sentence and one year of probation.
Barbee was elected constable of Jefferson County’s 48th District in 2016. He has produced campaign commercials for many high-profile politicians.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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