Randolph County, Al. commissioner faces charges

A member of the Randolph County Commission is facing felony charges, accused of using his position for personal gain.

Doug Sheppard, chairman of the commission, was arrested on Aug. 16 on 15 felony charges. He was released on $45,000 bond.

An indictment states only that Sheppard “did intentionally use or cause to be used equipment, facilities, time, materials, human labor, or other public property under his discretion or control for the private benefit or business benefit…which materially affected his financial interests, and the use and/or gain was not specifically authorized by law.”

Sheppard told The Anniston Star he couldn’t comment on the charges, but said four similar charges against him stemming from an Ethics Commission meeting in 2009 were dropped in April.

Sheppard’s attorney for the original four charges, Thomas Anderson Radney, said the courts dismissed the original felony charges against Sheppard and the charges now stand as misdemeanors. Radney said he could not comment on the most recent charges.

Randolph County Commissioner Lathonia Wright said “I really don’t know” about the possible effects the charges against Sheppard would have on the commission. He declined further comment.

Other Randolph County Commissioners were unavailable for comment.