Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that former Clarke County Sheriff William Ray Norris was indicted for the unlawful use of campaign contributions, violating the Fair Campaign Practices Act, use of office for personal gain, violating the Statement of Economic Interest disclosure requirements, and income tax evasion.
Norris surrendered to authorities at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and was released on a $50,000 bond.
In May of 2021, Norris resigned from his office after Attorney General Marshall’s Special Prosecutions Division filed articles of impeachment in the Alabama Supreme Court.
Marshall’s Special Prosecutions Division presented evidence to a Clarke County grand jury, resulting in Norris’s indictment on January 11.
Specifically, the indictment charges Norris with five counts of unlawful use of campaign contributions, two counts of intentionally violating Fair Campaign Practices Act reporting requirements, one count of use of office for personal gain, two counts of intentionally violating Statement of Economic Interest disclosure requirements, and one count of income tax evasion.
In May, when Norris resigned, Marshall said, “It is more important than ever that the public be able to trust elected officials, especially when they occupy leadership positions within law enforcement. It was my judgment that Sheriff Norris could no longer be trusted as a public servant or as a law enforcement official, and his resignation should be a welcome relief to the public. Sheriff Norris’ decision to resign from office, however, does not foreclose the possibility that criminal charges will be filed against him.”
No further information about the investigation or about Norris’ alleged crimes has been released.
If convicted, Norris faces a maximum penalty of two to 20 years for the alleged ethics violation and each count of the unlawful use of campaign contributions, which are class B felonies.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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