From the Office of Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall:

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the felony ethics conviction of the former clerk of the Town of Pisgah in Jackson County. Jennifer Lynne Hall, 43, pleaded guilty Tuesday to intentionally using her official position to steal $64,254 from the Town of Pisgah.

Hall was sentenced in Jackson County Circuit Court to 12 years, of which the first 10 years is to be served on supervised probation with the requirement that she make monthly payments of $535 in restitution. If Hall fails to pay off the full balance of restitution owed after 10 years, she must serve a two-year split sentence in the Department of Corrections. In addition, if Hall violates the terms of her probation (including by failing to make a monthly restitutionpayment), the circuit court may revoke Hall’s probation. The plea agreement also requires that Hall resign her public employment with the city of Henagar in DeKalb County, where she was a magistrate, and prohibits her from seeking or accepting any position with a state, county, or local governmental body while she is on supervised probation.

Hall’s conviction arises from her former position as the clerk of the Town of Pisgah. As part of her guilty plea, Hall admitted that she used her position and authority as town clerk to pay herself extra paychecks for compensatory time that she did not earn, accrue or have approved by her supervisor. Hall also admitted to manipulating the town’s health insurance payments toforce the town to pay for her family’s health insurance coverage, costing the town $13,063.

“The people of Alabama deserve to have confidence that their local government employeesperform their jobs with honesty and integrity,” said Attorney General Marshall. “I am pleased that this defendant’s breach of the public trust will be punished, and that the Town of Pisgah will receive restitution for its loss. Our citizens can be assured that the Attorney General’s Office will be vigilant in pursing those who violate Alabama’s ethics laws.”

Attorney General Marshall thanked the leadership of the Town of Pisgah for its assistance in this case. He commended Assistant Attorneys General Kyle Beckman and Jasper Roberts as wellas Special Agents of the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division, for their outstandingwork to achieve this conviction and sentence.