Former policeman facing charges
Published 4:19 pm Wednesday, May 2, 2012
A former Brewton Police officer was arrested Tuesday on ethics violations — both of which are felony charges.
Eddie Laffon Barton, III, 37, was arrested by agents of the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center after an Escambia County grand jury handed down the indictments against him.
The indictment charges that Barton intentionally misused his public position for unlawful personal gain, and that he misused confidential law enforcement data by willfully accessing confidential private information about an individual that was unrelated to any official law enforcement duty.
The indictment was based on evidence presented to the grand jury on April 27 by the Escambia County District Attorney’s office.
Barton was arrested at his residence Tuesday and was transported to the Escambia County Detention Center where he was booked on the charges.
If convicted, Barton faces a penalty of two to 20 years imprisonment for the ethics law violation, which is a class B felony, and up to five years imprisonment for the misuse of confidential law enforcement data, which is an unclassified felony.
Neither officials with the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center nor the Escambia County District Attorney’s office would release any additional information concerning the investigation in the case nor about the crimes Barton is alleged of committing.
The investigation in the case was conducted by special agents with the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center and is being prosecuted by the Escambia County District Attorney’s office.
Barton was released on $25,000 bond following his arrest.