Current:Home > StocksNewspaper publisher and reporter arrested and accused of revealing grand jury information-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Newspaper publisher and reporter arrested and accused of revealing grand jury information
View Date:2024-12-24 08:55:50
ATMORE, Ala. (AP) — A smalltown newspaper publisher and reporter in Alabama were arrested after authorities accused them of publishing an article that revealed information about a grand jury investigation involving the local school system.
Court records show Sherry Digmon, an owner of the Atmore News and a member of the local school board, and reporter Donald Fletcher were both arrested, along with a bookkeeper at the school system.
Digmon was also arrested Wednesday on a separate charge of violating state ethics law. The indictment accused her of using her school board position for personal gain and improperly soliciting a thing of value by selling $2,500 worth of advertisements to the school system. Alabama ethics law prohibits public officials from soliciting money and valuables, although it makes an exception for normal business dealings.
District Attorney Steve Billy, the prosecutor in both cases, did not return an telephone message and an email Wednesday seeking comment.
The court documents don’t say specifically what information about a grand jury investigation the paper is accused of publishing. On Oct. 25, the paper published article saying the school system had received a subpoena seeking information about bonuses paid from pandemic relief funds. Another piece said authorities seized the phones of school board members, including Digmon, who voted against renewing the school superintendent’s contract.
Dennis Bailey, general counsel for the Alabama Press Association, said Wednesday that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the First Amendment gives, “the news media a right to publish truthful information on matters of public concern, even if unlawfully acquired, provided the publisher did not participate in the unlawful conduct.”
“I do not know all the facts here, but based upon what I have seen so far, it is my opinion reporters who receive and publish unsolicited tips about the actual issuance and service of a grand jury subpoena do not violate Alabama grand jury secrecy laws unless they coerced someone to provide the information,” Bailey wrote in an email.
In over 40 years of handling media law matters, Bailey said he had “never seen a reporter arrested for publishing truthful information about the existence of a grand jury subpoena.”
One of the articles published said the school system’s bookkeeper and financial officer had received a subpoena to provide information about COVID-era bonuses paid to employees. Another cited an unnamed source saying Billy aimed to prove school board members had violated the state Open Meetings Act.
Telephone messages to the newspaper and to a defense lawyer, representing both Digmon and Fletcher, were not returned.
Court records also show impeachment papers were filed against Digmon on Monday to try to remove her from her public position.
veryGood! (7)
Related
- Tony Hinchcliffe refuses to apologize after calling Puerto Rico 'garbage' at Trump rally
- Liverpool and Man City draw 1-1 in thrilling Premier League clash at Anfield
- New trial opens for American friends over fatal stabbing of Rome police officer
- Gold ring found in Sweden about 500 years after unlucky person likely lost it
- Cameron Brink set to make Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut
- Taylor Swift fans insist bride keep autographed guitar, donate for wedding
- Descendants of suffragists talk about the importance of women's voices in 2024
- Josh Hartnett and Wife Tamsin Egerton Have a Rare Star-Studded Date Night at Pre-Oscars Party
- Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn is ending her retirement at age 40 to make a skiing comeback
- Slain woman, 96, was getting ready to bake cookies, celebrate her birthday, sheriff says
Ranking
- Klay Thompson returns to Golden State in NBA Cup game. How to watch
- New Jersey infant killed, parents injured in apparent attack by family dog, police say
- Why Ryan Gosling's 'I'm Just Ken' was nearly cut from 'Barbie' film
- 80 years after D-Day, a World War II veteran is getting married near beaches where US troops landed
- Beyoncé course coming to Yale University to examine her legacy
- 2 National Guard soldiers, 1 Border Patrol agent killed in Texas helicopter crash are identified
- Francis Ngannou says Anthony Joshua KO wasn't painful: 'That's how I know I was knocked out'
- West Virginia Legislature ends session with pay raises, tax cut and failure of social issue bills
Recommendation
-
This is Your Sign To Share this Luxury Gift Guide With Your Partner *Hint* *Hint
-
Peek inside the 2024 Oscar rehearsals: America Ferrera, Zendaya, f-bombs and fake speeches
-
Ranking MLB's stadiums from 1 to 30: Baseball travelers' favorite ballparks
-
NFL free agency RB rankings: Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry among best available backs
-
The charming Russian scene-stealers of 'Anora' are also real-life best friends
-
Eagles 6-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox announces his retirement after 12 seasons
-
We Won't Be Quiet Over Emily Blunt and John Krasinski's Cutest Pics
-
No. 8 Southern California tops No. 2 Stanford to win women's Pac-12 championship