Sen. Tom Whatley arrested on domestic violence charge
Posted: Dec 10, 2014 12:00 PM CST Updated: Dec 10, 2014 3:39 PM CST
By WSFA 12 News Staff
OPELIKA, AL (WSFA) -
The Lee County Sheriff's Office is confirming to WSFA 12 News that State Senator Tom Whatley (
R-District 27) was arrested and charged with third degree domestic violence. Sheriff Jay Jones says Whatley posted a $500 bond and was released.
Whatley, who has represented Lee, Russell and Tallapoosa counties in Alabama's legislature since 2010, was arrested by officers with the Auburn Police Department.
He was booked into the Lee County Jail where he was held for a mandatory 12 hour period.
The Auburn Police Department said it is policy not to discuss or comment on allegations or charges related to domestic matters.
Alabama code indicates the following in regards to the charge Sen. Whatley faces:
(a) A person commits domestic violence in the third degree if the person commits the crime of assault in the third degree pursuant to Section 13A-6-22; the crime of menacing pursuant to Section 13A-6-23; the crime of reckless endangerment pursuant to Section 13A-6-24; the crime of criminal coercion pursuant to Section 13A-6-25; or the crime of harassment pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 13A-11-8; and the victim is a current or former spouse, parent, child, any person with whom the defendant has a child in common, a present or former household member, or a person who has or had a dating or engagement relationship with the defendant. Domestic violence in the third degree is a Class A misdemeanor, except the defendant shall serve a minimum term of imprisonment of 48 hours in a city or county jail or detention facility without consideration of reduction in time for any second or subsequent conviction under this subsection.
(b) The minimum term of imprisonment imposed under subsection (a) shall be double without consideration of reduction in time if a defendant willfully violates a protection order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction and in the process of violating the order commits domestic violence in the third degree.
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