[MSN] Montgomery. Attorney General's Office Arrests Former State Museum Curator, Great Aunt.

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Attorney General's Office Arrests Former State Museum Curator, Great Aunt

Aug 30, 2007 10:47 PM 

(MONTGOMERY)-Attorney General Troy King announced the arrests Thursday of a
former state museum curator and the man's great aunt, both on theft charges
related to a transaction involving a Spanish American War uniform and medal.
Myers Brown and Dora Palmer were arrested by agents of the Attorney
General's Office and taken to the Lawrence County Jail. Brown was employed
with the Alabama Historical Commission as curator for Pond Spring, the home
of General Joe Wheeler, in Hillsboro. Brown is a resident of Old Hickory,
Tennessee, and Palmer lives near Franklin, Tennessee. 

Attorney General King's Office presented evidence to a Lawrence County grand
jury, resulting in the indictments of Brown and Palmer on August 14.
Specifically, the indictments charge each defendant with one count of
first-degree theft of more than $2,500 from the State of Alabama, and one
count of conspiracy to commit first-degree theft by doing one or more of the
following acts: 

Brown agreed to pay Palmer $5,000 of State funds for a Spanish American War
uniform and medal; 
Brown used his position to have $5,000 in state funds transmitted to Palmer
for the uniform and medal; 
Brown transported the uniform and medal from Palmer's home to Hillsboro;  
Palmer accepted a $5,000 check from the State of Alabama for the uniform and
medal; and 
Palmer transmitted an invoice for $5,000 to the State for the uniform.
If convicted, the defendants face maximum penalties of up to 20 years
imprisonment and fines of up to $10,000.  No further information about the
investigation or about the defendants' alleged crimes other than that stated
in the indictment may be released at this time.

"These defendants are accused of diverting scarce resources, that should
have been devoted to protecting Alabama's proud history, into their own
pockets," said Attorney General King. "Such allegations are serious and
where evidence indicates the law has been violated, we will investigate and
prosecute to defend the property of the people of Alabama." 

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