Former Alabama State Senator Doug Ghee Indicted on Sexual Abuse Charge

Anniston, AL – June 27, 2025 - Former Alabama State Senator Marshall Douglas Ghee Sr., a longtime attorney and political figure in Calhoun County, has been indicted on one count of first-degree sexual abuse following allegations involving a female inmate at the Calhoun County Jail.

The indictment, handed down by a grand jury on June 25, accuses Ghee of subjecting the woman to sexual contact by forcible compulsion, a violation of Alabama Code § 13A-6-66(a)(1). The charge is classified as a Class C felony, carrying a potential sentence of one to ten years in prison if convicted.

According to court documents, the alleged incident occurred on July 12, 2024, during a client-attorney meeting inside the jail. The woman, who was shackled and handcuffed at the time, claims Ghee offered her legal assistance in exchange for sexual favors and later assaulted her during a follow-up visit. Surveillance footage from the attorney room reportedly corroborates parts of her account.

Ghee, 79, turned himself in to the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office on June 26 and was released shortly afterward on a $5,000 bond. In a public statement, he denied the allegations, saying:

"I am innocent of the charges that have been made against me. I have worked hard to conduct myself in the most honorable way possible... The charges against me are totally unfounded and will be vigorously defended".

The case has drawn renewed attention to Ghee's past. He served in the Alabama Senate from 1990 to 1998 and has remained active in legal and civic circles in Anniston. In 2024, he was named in a civil lawsuit by the same inmate, who alleged a pattern of coercion and abuse. A second inmate has since come forward with similar claims.

The Alabama Attorney General's Office is leading the prosecution. A preliminary hearing date has not yet been announced.