Brantley Woman Sentenced for Stealing Nearly $190,000 from Crenshaw County Sheriff's Office

August 4, 2026 - LUVERNE, Ala. - Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced Tuesday that Jennifer Knighten, a former office administrator for the Crenshaw County Sheriff's Office, has been convicted and sentenced for stealing nearly $190,000 in public funds during her tenure.

Knighten, 54, of Brantley, pleaded guilty to use of office for personal gain, a Class B felony under Alabama law. Prosecutors say Knighten carried out a long-running scheme that diverted $189,596.65 from the Sheriff's Office through multiple fraudulent methods.

A Pattern of Deception

According to the Attorney General's Special Prosecutions Division, Knighten's theft involved several coordinated tactics designed to evade detection:

False timesheets and fraudulent payroll checks issued to herself

Payments of personal credit card bills using Sheriff's Office funds

Checks written to fictitious vendors, with Knighten pocketing the money

Theft of inmate work-release funds, which she was responsible for managing

Investigators say the scheme unfolded over an extended period and exploited Knighten's administrative access within the department.

Sentence and Penalties

Knighten received a 10-year sentence, which will be split to serve two years in custody followed by five years of supervised probation. The split sentence reflects Alabama's statutory structure for certain felony convictions, particularly those involving public corruption.

The Attorney General emphasized that Knighten's actions represented a serious breach of public trust.

Prosecution and Investigation

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General John Pace of the Special Prosecutions Division. Marshall credited the Alabama Department of Public Accounts and the Crenshaw County Sheriff's Office for their cooperation and assistance throughout the investigation.

Marshall noted that rooting out corruption within public offices remains a priority for his administration, especially in cases where taxpayer money is misused.

Restoring Trust in Local Government

The conviction marks another high-profile corruption case resolved by the Attorney General's Office, underscoring ongoing efforts to strengthen accountability in county and municipal agencies across Alabama. For Crenshaw County residents, the sentencing brings closure to a case that raised concerns about financial oversight within the Sheriff's Office.