Geneva County circuit clerk arrested on felony charge for misusing public funds
Geneva County Circuit Clerk Ashley Powell was taken into custody after being charged with a Class B felony for diverting over $93,000 of public money to herself.
Attorney General Steve Marshall disclosed that Ashley Powell, the Geneva County Circuit Clerk, has been charged with violating state ethics rules by using her office for personal financial gain. The indictment alleges she illegally transferred over $93,000 of public funds to herself, a violation classified as a Class B felony that could carry up to 20 years in prison. Powell, 52, had been barred from performing clerk duties months before her arrest and was ordered to relinquish her office keys in March.
She was appointed by Judicial Circuit Chief Judge William Filmore in 2023 to finish the term of former clerk Gale Laye. Prior to the charges, Powell told one outlet media she intended to run for the clerk position as a Republican in the upcoming 2024 election.
Why it matters
The case highlights potential abuse of public office and raises concerns about election administration integrity.
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