Attorney General Steve Marshall has announced the conviction of a Limestone County attorney, John Totten, for harassment. Totten, 50, from Athens, admitted guilt to one count of harassment, classified as a Class C misdemeanor.
The incident involved Totten confronting a victim he met in his capacity as legal representative for a defendant accused of domestic violence. Prior to a court hearing, he instructed the victim to remain at his office and later confronted her at the courthouse, telling her to leave. This confrontation caused fear in the victim about attending court proceedings.
"Victims of domestic violence should not fear harassment from attorneys who represent their attackers," stated 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."
Following his guilty plea, Totten received a sentence according to the plea agreement: 90 days in county jail were suspended and replaced with one year of probation.
Marshall acknowledged his Criminal Trials and Investigations Divisions for their effective handling of this case. He specifically praised Deputy Attorney General John Kachelman and also recognized the contributions of the Investigations Unit from the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office.