Alabama AG: Limestone County attorney pleads guilty to harassment of victim in DV case

LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — A Limestone County attorney pleaded guilty to harassment on Wednesday for an incident with a victim in a domestic violence case.

Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the conviction and sentencing of John Totten, 50, of Athens.

Totten pleaded guilty to one count of Harassment, a Class C misdemeanor. As part of the plea agreement, he was sentenced to 90 days in county jail, but that jail time was suspended and he was ordered to serve one year of probation.

Originally, Totten faced tampering with a witness and obstruction charges, court documents show.

Marshall’s office said Totten was representing someone accused of domestic violence when he met with them and the victim before a court hearing. He then reportedly told the victim to stay at his office.

“Later, when the victim came to the courthouse, Totten confronted her verbally and told the victim to leave the courthouse, causing her to be fearful of showing up at the courthouse,” the attorney general’s office said in the announcement.

After pleading guilty to the misdemeanor, Totten was sentenced pursuant to the plea agreement to 90 days in the county jail, which was suspended and ordered to serve one year of probation.

Marshall thanked the Criminal Trials and Investigations Divisions for their work on the prosecution of this case, as well as the Investigations Unit of the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office.

“Victims of domestic violence should not fear harassment from attorneys who represent their attackers,” said Attorney General Steve Marshall. “Attorneys should especially be held to the strictest moral and ethical standards as they carry out their roles in our judicial system. Those who violate these standards will face criminal prosecution in accordance with the law.”

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