June 4th, 2013 – Indictment of Lashunda Scales

District Attorney Brandon Falls announced today that two indictments have been returned by the Grand Jury of Jefferson County, Alabama. Birmingham City Council Woman Lashunda Scales has been indicted in two separate indictments.

The first indictment contains two counts of individual ethics violations. The first count is intentional use of office for personal gain. The second count is for the intentional use by a public official of equipment, facilities, time, material, human labor, or any public property for the private or business benefit.

The second indictment contains four counts. The first count is the attempted use of official position for the purpose of influencing the vote of another person. The second count is the obstruction, intimidation, threat, or coercion of another voter for the purpose of interfering with their right to vote. The third count is that on an election day, she did disturb, prevent, or attempt to prevent a voter from freely voting. The fourth count is the interference or undue influence of a voter inside the polling place.

District Attorney Falls commends the Ethics Commission’s work and thanks the Attorney General’s Office for their referral of the ethics investigation. He further commends the Election Officials of the City of Birmingham and their actions in presenting this case to the Alabama Secretary of State.

The District Attorney’s Office remains committed to open and honest government for the people of Jefferson County. As always, District Attorney Falls encourages any citizen aware of any impropriety by public officials to report such actions to law enforcement.

Ms. Scales is currently on bond. Her arraignment date will be set by the duly assigned judge at a future date.

A charge against a defendant is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.