Incoming Jefferson County District Attorney Under Indictment
Note: this story has been updated on Saturday January 14 at 8:10 p.m. See update below.
Jefferson County’s newly-elected district attorney, Charles Todd Henderson, was indicted on a felony perjury charge Friday. Henderson surrendered at the Jefferson County Jail and was soon released on $2,500 bond.
Late Friday afternoon, Attorney General Luther Strange announced the indictment, which came after Strange’s Special Prosecutions Division presented evidence to a special grand jury in Jefferson County. The Attorney General’s Office investigated Henderson in connection with information it received from the Alabama State Bar in December.
Henderson is charged with one count of felony perjury. The indictment charges that Henderson in September gave false statement material in a proceeding before Jefferson County Circuit Judge Judge Patricia Stephens.
A statement written by Jim Parkman, Henderson’s attorney, calls the timing of the indictment “strange” and the charges false. “Mr. Henderson cannot wait to get into court and start fighting this injustice,” Parkman wrote. If Henderson is convicted, he faces a maximum 10 years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
An indictment, according to Alabama law, prevents a person from carrying out the duties of the district attorney position. Henderson was to begin work as the county’s district attorney on Tuesday. A Jefferson County circuit judge will appoint a temporary replacement for Henderson after he is officially sworn into office January 17.
Henderson, a Democrat from Pleasant Grove, was elected in November. He unseated the incumbent, Republican Brandon Falls.
Update January 14 at 8:10 p.m. — The Jeffco District Attorney’s office just announced Danny Carr will serve as DA until felony perjury charges against DA-elect Charles Todd Henderson are resolved. Carr is a 15-year veteran of the DA’s office, and was initially to serve under Henderson as Chief Deputy DA. Attorney General Luther Strange issued Henderson’s indictment on Friday.
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