FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
June 22, 2012
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Alabama Attorney General
Suzanne Webb (334) 242-7351
Jeff Sommer (334) 353-2199-
Page 1 of 1
AG WARNS AGAINST MISUSE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION,
ANNOUNCES RECENT PROSECUTIONS
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange today warned against misuse of
criminal justice information and announced recent prosecutions for crimes involving inappropriate
access to the confidential records of the Law Enforcement Tactical System (LETS).
“Certain public employees may be entrusted with access to confidential criminal justice
information, which state law mandates is private and confidential to be used for official law
enforcement purposes only,” stated Attorney General Strange. “If private citizens improperly
acquire the means of access to this information, it is illegal for them to use it. Those who betray
this trust and break the law to use this date for private and inappropriate purposes are committing
a crime for which they will be held to account.”
A former police officer with the University of West Alabama was convicted earlier this
week of obtaining criminal record information under false pretenses. William Flowers, 47, of York,
pleaded guilty to the felony on June 20 in Sumter County Circuit Court. Flowers was sentenced to
two years imprisonment, which was suspended for a period of two years of probation.
In an unrelated case, the wife of a former police officer for the Prattville Police Department
was convicted on June 14 for unauthorized access of a computer system for fraudulent purposes.
Brynn Elizabeth Herring, 28, of Pensacola, stated that she used her husband’s user name and
password to access confidential records without his knowledge or involvement. In a June 20 order
of the Autauga County Circuit Court, Herring was sentenced to one year and one day
imprisonment, which was suspended for a term of one year of probation.
These cases were investigated by the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC),
the state agency that maintains the LETS system and other criminal justice data for the State of
Alabama, and prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.
“It is a crime to use LETS for any purpose other than legitimate law enforcement or criminal
justice purpose,” said Maury Mitchell, director of the ACJIC. “Access to this data is privileged and
confidential. We will not hesitate to continue to investigate and recommend prosecution for any
person who unlawfully accesses or misuses this information.”
Attorney General Strange commended those involved in bringing the case to a successful
conclusion, noting in particular Assistant Attorneys General John Gibbs and Thomas Govan, and
special agents of the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center.
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501 Washington Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov
