State rests in sheriff's impeachment trial

Prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Sumter County Sheriff Tyrone Clark have rested their case.

But before they rested, a former Sumter County Chief Deputy testified that he warned Clark that Rodney Coats would be Clark’s downfall. Clark had previously made Coats an “inmate trustee,” who was given special privileges and responsibilities around the jail.

“I said, ‘Sheriff ... with (Coats’) criminal history, he cannot be trusted to be a trustee. It’s too dangerous for this environment,'” testified Luther Davis, Clark’s former deputy.

Clark’s impeachment trial in front of the Alabama Supreme Court began Monday, where many of the allegations revolve around his friendship with Coats.

“It was almost like (Coats) was another chief deputy or one of (Clark’s) close friends," Davis said from the stand on Tuesday. "I don’t understand the relationship. I don’t understand why he had privileges.”

Clark testified that a detention officer recommended Coats become an inmate trustee, which he subsequently approved.

Michael Duffey, an assistant attorney general prosecuting the case, asked Davis if Clark and Coats were known to go fishing together. Davis said they were.

Assistant attorneys general prosecuting the case have repeatedly pointed out that Coats was being held on a $675,000 bond for a collective eight criminal charges while at the Sumter County jail.

Impeachment trial underway for Sumter County sheriff

Davis testified for hours about what Coats was allegedly allowed to do under Clark’s watch, such as drive the sheriff’s Expedition off the premises. This was during a time when Davis was unable to get a replacement patrol car after he got in an accident, he said.

He also spoke to how Coats allegedly helped Clark run the jail.

“Did you have the password to get into the surveillance system?” Duffey asked while examining Davis.

“No I didn’t,” Davis answered

“Who had the password?” Duffey asked.

“Rodney Coats,” Davis said.

Defense counsel has argued that Clark’s case is born from small-town politics that got blown out of proportion.

Chad Morgan, who represents Clark, asked Davis if he told his former fiancée about plans to usurp Clark’s position.

Davis said he didn’t.

“This is simply small town politics blown up in this arena that has no business being in front of this Supreme Court,” Morgan said on Monday during opening statements.

Clark, for his part, denied many of the allegations pending against him when he testified Tuesday. Some of those allegations accuse Clark of allowing Coats to have visitors after hours in an unattended administration room, process other inmates into the jail, re-enter the jail after working off site without being searched.

Clark said he wasn't aware this was happening. He has also been accused of letting inmates leave the jail to work without supervision, although Sumter County does not have a work release program. Clark explained the inmates were participating in a work furlough program, which is different from a work release program in that inmates kept the majority of the profits while sending 25% back to the Sheriff's office.

During opening statements, Assistant Attorney General Megan Kirkpatrick said Clark pocketed that 25%.

If the Alabama Supreme Court justices find Clark guilty of the alleged violations, he will automatically be removed from office. He was first elected as sheriff in 2011.

Any potential criminal proceedings would be separately filed.