FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
November 17, 2015
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
AG STRANGE ANNOUNCES CONVICTION OF MONTGOMERY
WOMAN FOR VIOLATION OF GRAND JURY SECRECY
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange announced the conviction of a
Montgomery woman, who was on the grand jury in a major drug case, for attempting to reveal
confidential grand jury information. Latoya Ware pleaded guilty yesterday in Montgomery
County Circuit Court to the unclassified felony.
A date for sentencing has not been set because Ware has applied for pretrial diversion,
which the State is opposing. She faces a potential sentence of three years and a fine of $3,000.
In August, Ware was among 18 citizens serving on a Montgomery County grand jury
that considered a case presented by the Attorney General’s Office concerning 15 individuals
who were ultimately indicted on state charges of drug conspiracy in a major joint investigation
by state, federal and local law enforcement. She and the other grand jurors were instructed that
grand jury proceedings are secret and must not be discussed with anyone outside the grand
jury. However, during a break, Ware was observed taking photographs of some of the physical
evidence that was shown to the grand jury. When questioned by another grand juror, she said
she had deleted the information. She denied to the prosecutor and investigators of the Attorney
General’s Office that she had taken any photographs. However, after she gave permission for
her phone to be searched, it was discovered that photographs of the physical evidence had been
deleted but saved to the internet cloud.
“This conviction is important because it is vital that the integrity of the grand jury
process be preserved,” said Attorney General Strange. “These proceedings are preliminary to a
prosecution, and are confidential by law for the protection of witnesses, law enforcement and
even the suspects in a case. Abuse of the grand jury secrecy act must not be tolerated.”
Attorney General Strange commended Assistant Attorneys General Bill Lisenby and
James Rutter of his Criminal Trials Division, and Special Agents of his Investigations Division.
He thanked Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey’s office for assistance.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
