Montgomery Advertiser
PRATTVILLE, Ala. — A former Autaugaville Volunteer Fire Department chief committed suicide two days before he was to be sentenced on ethics violations.
Ernest Stoudemire was found dead Sunday, said Sheriff Joe Sedinger. The death has been ruled a suicide, the sheriff said. He declined to release specifics, given the nature of the case. Stoudemire was set to be sentenced Tuesday by Circuit Judge John Booth, courthouse records show.
Stoudemire, 52, of Autaugaville, had entered the guilty plea to a charge of using his public office for personal gain, according to Attorney General Luther Strange’s office.
Stoudemire and Mack Cell Harmon, 72, solicited a $1,000 donation for the department, then used the money for themselves, the AG’s office said. Harmon was convicted of use of public office for personal gain in July of 2014. Circuit Judge John Bush sentenced him to 30 days in the Autauga Metro Jail, courthouse records show.
Testimony during Harmon’s two-day trial brought out that he and Stoudemire used the donation to reimburse themselves for fire equipment they bought out of their own pockets. The $1,000 donation had been paid back to the department before Harmon’s trial.
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