Thursday, December 10, 2020

Former Alabama judge sentenced to prison for theft


ATHENS, Ala. (AP) — A former Alabama judge who pleaded guilty to felony ethics and theft charges was sentenced to four years in prison during a hearing Tuesday.

Douglas Patterson, who resigned from his job as district judge in Limestone County in July, also was ordered to pay almost $73,000 in restitution, and sheriff's deputies took him into custody immediately, news outlets reported.

After serving his sentence, Patterson must spend six years on supervised probation and could be sentenced to additional time in prison if he fails to comply with its provisions.

Patterson, 38, pleaded guilty in October after being indicted last year on charges of financial exploitation, theft and using his position for personal gain. He was was accused of taking more than $47,000 from a juvenile court fund as judge and stealing from the conservatorship account of a disabled person while working as a private attorney.

Former Gov. Robert Bentley appointed Patterson to the judgeship in March 2016, and he later ran unopposed and won a six-year term.
 
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