Lowndes County sheriff pleads not guilty to commission meeting charges

HAYNEVILLE, Ala. (WSFA) – Lowndes County Sheriff Christopher West was in municipal court Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor charges.

THE the arrest took place in early September, when West was accused of disrupting a county commission meeting by arguing with District 1 Commissioner Robert Harris about moving sheriff’s investigators into the old Hayneville City Hall. West is accused of threatening commissioners and disrupting their vote.

He now faces charges of harassment and obstructing government operations, but his lawyer, Richard Rice, said those charges should be dropped.

“It’s a slippery slope,” Rice said. “Politicians, elected officials, should not use the criminal justice system as a weapon if they have a disagreement. »

Harris, who filed the complaint, said the decision that sparked the argument was due to the condition of the current building. He said the sheriff opposed the move because he didn’t like the building.

“We used what we had to try to accommodate it to the best of our abilities and what we could afford,” Harris said.

Harris says things escalated after motions were made to move forward.

West’s attorney says he recently obtained a copy of the video of the exchange. He claimed the allegations against his client were politically motivated.

“Some of the comments are sometimes not savory, or maybe it’s not what you would say to your grandmother, but at the end of the day, these are adults who manage other people’s affairs. Sometimes it’s controversial. That doesn’t mean it poses a threat,” Rice said.

Harris said all he wants is for the sheriff to be held accountable for his actions, saying, “He’s the sheriff.” It’s meant to defuse, not escalate.

West remains sheriff, but his attorney says the longer it goes on, the greater the impact.

“Sheriff West looks forward to putting these charges behind him so he can move forward in the office he was elected to serve,” he said.

Judge Fred Bell made the decision to take the matter under advisement. The next court date is set for November 14.

The city attorney in that case recused himself. Another prosecutor will be appointed.

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