Staff Report
From the Office of Attorney General Luther Strange
(MONTGOMERY)–Attorney General Luther Strange announced the arrest yesterday of a Montgomery woman for felony theft and ethics charges related to her former position as Director of the Head Start Collaboration Office for the Alabama Department of Children’s Affairs. Linda Hampton, 62, surrendered to agents of the Attorney General’s Office at the Montgomery County Detention Center.
Attorney General Strange’s Office presented evidence to a Montgomery County grand jury, resulting in Hampton’s indictment* on February 21. Specifically, the indictment charges Hampton with:
- One count of second-degree theft of between $500 and $2,500 from the State of Alabama; and
- Three counts of intentional use of her public position for the personal gain of money to herself or a family member.
No further information about the investigation or about Hampton’s alleged crimes other than that stated in the indictment may be released at this time.
If convicted, Hampton faces a maximum penalty of two to 20 years and a fine of up to $30,000 for each of the three ethics counts, which are class B felonies; and one year and a day to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $15,000 for the charge of second-degree theft, which is a class C felony.
Attorney General Strange commended those involved in this case, noting in particular Assistant Attorney General Pete Smyczek 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.
