Alabama Mayor Kenneth Nail (of Hanceville) admitted that he was forcing inmates and city employees into private labor. After pleading guilty to multiple misdemeanor counts, the official resigned on Tuesday, Dec. 19.
Nail, who served the city of Hanceville with a population of over 3,000, faced a multi-count indictment in November, which Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker filed. At first, he was charged with felony crimes. However, because of his plea deal, these charges were reduced to 15 counts of misdemeanors.
Alabama Mayor Admits Forcing City Employees, Inmates to Private Labor
Sixty-year-old Kenneth Nail entered the plea to use the office for personal gain, publicly apologized for his actions, and agreed to resign as Hanceville's mayor.
"I am truly sorry for the harm and inconvenience brought about by this," said Nail via Fox News.
"I never wanted to bring any negativity to Hanceville. I love Hanceville and the people of Hanceville. I would never do anything to intentionally harm the city. Again, I am truly sorry," he added.
However, he still defended himself from allegations, claiming that he held no ill will to anyone and only pleaded guilty since he believed this deal was the best choice for him and his family, as reported by CBS 42.
He also talked about one of the charges he faced, which involved him employing former police chief Bob Long in different capacities. Kenneth Nail asked why authorities didn't charge Bob Long if he worked for him on duty.
Nail stated that Long wasn't in the city when he employed him. Aside from this, the former Alabama mayor also accused the Alabama Ethics Commission of having a "half-assed" investigation.
Kenneth stated that the commission treated him unfairly since officials didn't even bother to interview his niece regarding the charge against him, which claims that the ex-mayor used an inmate to do the work at his niece's house. Kenneth Nail explained that he made mistakes for the past 30 years serving the public. However, he had wanted nothing but the best for Hanceville.
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Accusations Against Ex-Alabama Mayor
Aside from hiring Bob Long, Kenneth Nail was also accused of employing another city staff named Joshua Howell, who was tasked to use a city vehicle to drive to Georgia while on duty to work on a trailer they owned.
Prosecutors also claimed that Nail hired three former jail inmates to work at his house while they were in custody. Because of these charges, the former mayor was ordered to settle a $4,000 restitution, perform 120 hours of community service, and be on probation for 15 years.
He needed to settle a $2,500 fine and part of his plea deal. What's worse about his case is that he is now prohibited from working for any public or governmental entity during his probation.
