GENEVA, Ala. (WTVY) – A high-ranking Geneva County official is behind bars on Friday, accused of abusing her public office to line her own pockets with tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money.
Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the arrest of 52-year-old Ashley Powell, the Geneva County Circuit Clerk, following a grand jury indictment. Her arrest was expected as Powell had been barred from the office months ago.
Ashley Averett Powell(Geneva County Jail)
Investigators say Powell shattered that public trust by using her official position for personal gain. Specifically, the indictment accuses her of illegally routing more than $93,000 of public funds directly to herself.
Under Alabama law, using an official office for personal gain is a Class B felony. If convicted, Powell faces a devastating prison sentence of anywhere from two to 20 years behind bars.
The case is now in the hands of the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division, a specialized unit that targets public corruption and abuse of power at the highest levels of local government.
State officials are keeping details of the alleged scheme tightly under wraps, citing an active, ongoing investigation.
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