Hearing next month for Alabama lawmaker accused of theft

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A state lawmaker facing theft charges has a preliminary hearing set for next month.

Trey Norman, an attorney for state Rep. Will Dismukes, requested the hearing scheduled for Sept. 3 before Montgomery County District Court Judge Monet Gaines, al,com reported.

Dismukes was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2018. The freshman lawmaker, a Republican from Prattville, resigned as pastor of a Baptist church in Prattville after attending a celebration marking the birthday of a Confederate general who was an early Ku Klux Klan leader.

Dismukes was arrested Aug. 6 for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from the flooring company where he once worked. Norman said Dismukes disputes the accusation.

If convicted of the felony first-degree theft of property charge, Dismukes would automatically be removed from office.