Second official from Alabama city arrested on ethics charges

Published 10:00 pm Saturday, March 13, 2021

A second official in an east Alabama city is facing ethics violation charges.

Lanett Director of Planning and Development Tony Chandler, 46, has been charged with using his official position for personal gain, theft of services and making a false statement to an employee of the Ethics Commission, WTVM-TV reported.

Chandler turned himself in Friday at the Chambers County Jail. He was released after posting a $12,500 bond. It was not immediately known if he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

The warrant from Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office says that Chandler directed city employees to help him move personal property from one personal residence to another. He then reportedly made a false statement about the incident to an employee of the Ethics Commission during an investigation.

If convicted, Chandler could face between two and 20 years in prison and a $30,000 fine for the ethics charge, which is a felony. The theft of services charge could garner a sentence of one to five years and a $7,500 fine and the false statement charge could earn him up to a year in prison and a $6,000 fine.

The arrest comes less than a month after Lanett Mayor Kyle McCoy was indicted on three felony counts of using his office for personal gain. The attorney general’s office said McCoy, 56, was arrested after a Chambers County grand jury returned an indictment against him.