Former Leighton mayor, town clerk arrested

A Leighton former mayor and former town clerk have been arrested on charges brought against them by the state, according to the state attorney general's office.

Former mayor Robert Ricks was arrested Tuesday by members of the Colbert County sheriff's department and the attorney general's office, according to a news release from Attorney General Troy King.

Ricks, 60, was freed after posting a $3,000 bond, officials said.

He is charged with a felony violation of the state ethics law by intentional use of public office for unlawful personal gain, according to the release. King declined to release details about the indictment.

Ricks faces a possible penalty of two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

"We found out (about the indictment) this morning," said Ricks' attorney Tim Case.

Case said he has not seen the indictment but that his client denies the allegations.

In addition, former Leighton court clerk Lashawn H. Marshall, 38, was charged with second degree forgery of supporting documents for a food stamp application form,

The charge is a Class C felony that carries a possible penalty of a year and a day in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.

Neither Ricks nor Marshall could be reached for comment.

The charges stem from indictments handed down by a Colbert County grand jury on June 27. The cases were investigated by the attorney general's office and by the FBI as part of a joint public corruption task force, according to the release.

The cases were presented to the grand jury by members of the attorney general's office.

It's the second time in two months that Ricks has been charged with using his office for personal gain.

On May 2, Ricks was indicted by a federal grand jury for accusations that he received kickbacks of less than $5,000 from a mechanic who performed work on city vehicles.

A court official said Ricks is scheduled to be tried on the charge July 23 in U.S. District Court in Decatur.

The case will be heard by U.S. District Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins.

"We intend that it will go to trial," Case said.

The charge is a felony that carries a possible penalty of not more than 20 years in prison and a fine of no more than $250,000, or both.

Jill Ellis, a spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Alice Martin, said invoices were submitted to the city for payment for more than the actual cost of the repairs that were performed. Ricks is accused of receiving the additional money.

Ellis said the individuals or businesses that performed the work on the vehicles were not identified in the indictment and have not been charged.