By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall (R) announced Thursday that former Jefferson County District Attorney Charles Todd Henderson (D) received a two-year sentence, which was suspended for a term of six months in jail followed by 12 months of probation.
Henderson was convicted of first-degree perjury on Oct. 20, 2017.
Henderson was elected District Attorney in 2016, defeating incumbent Brandon Falls (R) in the general election, but he was indicted in January 2017 before he could assume office. Henderson claimed his innocence and that he was unfairly targeted for political reasons; a jury of his peers ultimately thought otherwise.
“Today’s sentence is a just and fair resolution of this case,” Marshall said. “As a former District Attorney, I was especially proud to have my Special Prosecutions Division work to hold this defendant accountable for his shocking and appalling conduct. All officers of the court – and prosecutors in particular – must adhere to the highest standard of integrity. Those who fail to do so by breaking the law should expect to be prosecuted.”
According to the sentence, if Henderson violates the terms and conditions of his probation, he will be remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections to serve the remainder of the two-year balance of imprisonment. In addition, he was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine, a $1,000 Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Fund assessment, and a $100 bail bond fee.
Prior to his election, Henderson was appointed as a guardian ad litem for a child involved in a custody case.
According to prosecutors, Henderson used his position of influence in the custody case to initiate a romantic relationship with the child’s mother. In the custody hearing, the father’s legal team accused Henderson of having a sexual relationship with the mother of the child. Under oath, Henderson denied having relations with the mother.
The judge referred this incident to the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division, headed by Matt Hart. Hart and the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division presented evidence at trial that indicated that Henderson had in fact spent the night with the woman, to whom he now is married.
The jury convicted Henderson after deliberating for less than one day.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) appointed veteran prosecutor Mike Anderson (R) as Jefferson County District Attorney. Anderton is seeking the office in the 2018 election. Danny Carr (D), who was the interim district attorney from the time that Henderson was supposed to have assumed office to when he was convicted and became no longer eligible, is also running for the office.
