Rayford Ernest Tapley, mayor of Hurtsboro, Ala., pleaded not guilty Monday in Russell County District Court to a charge of tampering with government records, attorneys said.
Tapley, 73, was arrested Aug. 12 when he turned himself in at the Russell County Jail. He’s accused of denying access to public records to a Hurtsboro resident, said Joe Edwards, assistant district attorney.
Ken White, Tapley’s attorney, argued after the hearing that the accusation doesn’t fit the law. His client’s charge deals with the maintenance of government records, not denying copies of them to someone, White said.
“Basically, what I’m trying to show is that Mr. Tapley is charged with a crime when no crime occurred,” White added. “The statute does not apply.”
Edwards said a Hurtsboro resident wanted the minutes to Hurtsboro council meetings and information about money the city took in and how it was spent. The resident also made requests at council meetings, Edwards added.
The case was presented to a grand jury, which returned an indictment the week before Tapley turned himself in, the prosecutor said. Tapley made a recognizance bond the day of his arrest.
Edwards said that at Monday’s hearing White entered the not guilty plea for his client, and that the case was scheduled for trial on Oct. 2.
If convicted, Tapley’s maximum sentence would be one year in prison and a $6,000 fine, Edwards said.
E-Mail
Print
@Nyx.CommentBody@