Escambia (Ala.) School Board Member, Newspaper Publisher Indicted On New Felony Ethics Charges

November 1, 2023

Escambia County (Alabama) School Board member and newspaper publisher Sherry Ann Digmon, 72, of Atmore was arrested Wednesday on additional charges.

She was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of ethics violations for use of office for personal gain.

The latest indictment alleges she used her position as a school board member to solicit ads forĀ Atmore Magazine, in which she is the incorporator and holds a financial interest.

Count two of the indictment alleges that she solicited payment for advertising from a subordinate, Then-Superintendent John Knott and/or CFO Julie Madden for advertising in Atmore Magazine.

She was released from jail Wednesday on a $100,000 bond. The new charges are Class B felonies with a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a top fine of $30,000.

Digmon, who is publisher of The Atmore News weekly newspaper and her reporter, Don Fletcher were arrested last week on charges of revealing grand jury secrets.

Comments

8 Responses to “Escambia (Ala.) School Board Member, Newspaper Publisher Indicted On New Felony Ethics Charges”

  1. Just thinking on November 5th, 2023 10:44 am

    @AC: Couldn’t agree with you more.

  2. AC on November 3rd, 2023 9:31 am

    @ Just Thinking;

    Pretty sure I know who you are based on your syntax structure compared to other publications; but I digress. You and Ms. Digmon can rest assured that we still have a legal system in this country that, although far from perfect, it is still the best in the world. There are still judges and juries and defense attorneys that are in place to insure a fair trial and due process. If this is simply a retaliatory charge for a “no-vote” as you claim, then I’m sure a judge and jury will see right through that. BUT, if Ms. Digmon has in fact used her political position for personal gain, then she should be charged. She is innocent until proven guilty, after all.

  3. Jules on November 3rd, 2023 2:52 am

    [We should never use our position/power to harm others.]

    I’m pretty sure she is just charged not convicted. Sounds like some people already have her convicted or has someone that is able give them information since their son in law has a nice paid, made up job.

    I said what I said.

  4. Bob on November 2nd, 2023 1:32 pm

    @EMD and Patty Davis

    “It’s okay to embezzle money from taxpayers because my political party didn’t win and some people do drugs”

    ok.

  5. Just Thinking on November 2nd, 2023 12:02 pm

    So sad that this entire prosecution is based on a NO VOTE made by School Board Members. Apparently, the powers to be in Escambia County AL didn’t’ approve.
    This is entirely political and is ruining the lives of a few very good people. Perhaps the State Attorney General will get involved at some point in the near future. The case looks like Abuse of Power at some level….

  6. Patty Davis on November 2nd, 2023 11:26 am

    Lot more could be done beside arresting someone like her that has done so much for her community. Get busy arresting people doing drugs, DUI,

  7. Margaret Silbernagel on November 2nd, 2023 9:02 am

    This whole situation is heartbreaking.

    The sad reality is that it never needed to happen.

    We should never use our position/power to harm others.

    In a world of cruelty, please be kind.

  8. EMD on November 2nd, 2023 8:10 am

    I do not know this lady or her reporter personally. And, I do not know what information was revealed. However, it seems like our country’s present federal administration has and is commiting much worse crimes against the whole country and our Constitution and getting away with it. I have never seen what looks like such an imbalance of law. The sentence seems to me ridiculous in the light of what so many have done that have hurt others. So many real criminals seem to often get a slap on the wrist. Sometimes more than once.