FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS ADVISORY
August 20, 2014
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Alabama Attorney General
Claire Haynes (334) 242-7351
Page 1 of 1
AG ANNOUNCES SENTENCING OF FORMER VFD ASSISTANT CHIEF
FOR FELONY ETHICS VIOLATION IN AUTAUGA COUNTY
(MONTGOMERY) -Attorney General Luther Strange announced the sentencing this
morning of a former assistant chief of the Autaugaville Volunteer Fire Department for a
felony ethics violation. Mack Cell Harmon was sentenced to 31 months, which was split for
him to serve 30 days in the Autauga County Jail followed by 18 months of probation.
Additionally, he was ordered to serve 150 hours community service and to pay court costs,
$50 to the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Fund, a $750 bail bond fee, a $500 fine,
and $500 in restitution to the Autaugaville Volunteer Fire Department.
Harmon was found guilty on July 10 by a jury in Autauga County Circuit Court
following a two-day trial. The Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division presented
evidence to an Autauga County grand jury resulting in Harmon’s indictment in November
of 2013. Also indicted were Danny Chavers, former chief of the Autaugaville VFD and a
former chairman of the Autauga County Commission, and Ernest Terry Stoudemire, also a
former chief of the Autaugaville VFD. Chavers pleaded guilty in March to five felony
charges, two for violating the ethics law and three for first-degree theft. An ethics charge
and a second-degree theft charge are pending against Stoudemire.
The evidence presented by the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division
showed that Harmon was the assistant chief of the Autaugaville Volunteer Fire Department
in 2012. Using his official position, Harmon illegally obtained and kept $500 of a donation
made by a private citizen that was intended for the Fire Department. This occurred at a
time when the Fire Department was recovering from the theft of its money by Danny
Chavers and the donation was intended to help with expenses.
“This is a serious crime involving a betrayal of the public trust regarding money that
belonged to a volunteer fire department,” said Attorney General Strange. “I am pleased that
this defendant has been called to account and will serve time in jail for his wrongdoing.”
Attorney General Strange commended those involved in bringing this case to a
successful conclusion, noting in particular Assistant Attorneys General Bill Lisenby and
Pete Smyczek of the Special Prosecutions Division, investigators of the Special Prosecutions
Division and members of the Autaugaville Volunteer Fire Department.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov
