Staff Report
From the Office of Attorney General Luther Strange
(MONTGOMERY)–Attorney General Luther Strange announced the arrest today of a former court clerk of Argo for felony charges of first-degree theft and an ethics law violation. Myrtle Norton, 75, of Odenville, Alabama surrendered to the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office on March 1 and was released on $5,000 bond.
Attorney General Strange’s Office presented evidence to a St. Clair County grand jury on February 28, resulting in Norton’s indictment. Specifically, the indictment charges Norton with two counts of first-degree theft of checks or currency that was the property of the Town of Argo, with each of these two counts involving theft of more than $2,500; and, with one count of violating the ethics law by intentionally using her official position as a Town of Argo public employee for the unlawful personal gain of currency or checks which were the property of the Town of Argo.
No further information about the investigation or about Norton’s alleged crimes other than that stated in the indictment may be released at this time.
If convicted, Norton faces a penalty of two to 20 years of imprisonment and fines of up to $30,000 for each of the three charges, which are class B felonies.
Attorney General Strange commended those involved in this case, noting in particular Assistant Attorney General Bill Lisenby Jr., Assistant Attorney General Peter J. Smyczek and Deputy Attorney General Michael B. Duffy, all of the Attorney General’s Public Corruption and White Collar Crime Division and Special Agents assigned to the Attorney General’s Investigations Division.
*An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
