Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced Monday that an Alabama circuit court judge has been arrested on 18 felony charges following an audit by the Office of Public Accounts. The audit examined the Lauderdale County Chief Judge's Judicial Administration Fund and Law Library Fund.

According to the Marshall's Office, 11th Judicial Circuit Judge Gilbert P. Self in Florence appeared at the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office and was charged with:

• 16 charges of using office for personal or family benefit;
• One count of making a false statement to a public accounting auditor
• One count of perjury

A statement from Marshall's office said the prohibited acts he was charged with included using more than $50,000 of public funds to employ his son and making personal purchases such as sofas, alcoholic beverages and eyeglasses. This includes the use of public funds. He is also accused of using his office to cover various vacations with public funds, including a ski trip to Montana, a beach trip, a tri-state biking trip and a trip to St. Ignace, Michigan.

“From the time the auditors first brought these matters to my attention, I have acknowledged that there were honest but correctable errors in the two bank accounts I managed as presiding judge,” Self said. said in a statement. “These mistakes occurred at a time when the court system was under tremendous pressure, understaffed and overburdened due to the pandemic. I never intended to break the law. Lauderdale County has not disbursed any funds, and all of the funds in question are in these accounts.

“I cannot change the mistakes I made, and the embarrassment and regret are painful realities. Thankfully, my wife, sons, family, friends, and church have steadfastly supported me. Our Community We look forward to encouraging our residents to reflect on what happened and consider the unprecedented circumstances surrounding many of these events.”

The indictment also charges him with using public funds to pay for his own transportation when he did not attend an event in Reno, Nevada. Duck Key, Florida. Mackinac Island, Michigan. And Alabama. The indictment also accuses Self of doubling his per diem and mileage allowances and making false statements to the Comptroller of Public Accounts during the audit.

Finally, the indictment charges Self with making a false statement while under oath to tell the truth before a Lauderdale County grand jury this month, a statement from the Marshall's office said.

If convicted, Mr. Self faces up to 20 years in prison and a $30,000 fine for each of the 16 charges of violating the Ethics Act, a class B felony. He must also pay a $15,000 fine for making false statements to an examiner and perjury, a class C felony.

Mr. Self was released Monday after posting bail totaling $75,000.

Austin Shipley is a staff writer at Yellowhammer News.