Little pleads not guilty to theft charge

Published 6:24 pm Friday, March 1, 2019

Former Alabama Sen. Zeb Little has waived his arraignment on a trio of recent theft charges, pleading not guilty to three counts of 1st degree theft of property.

Through his attorney, Tuscaloosa-based James O. Standridge, Little pleaded not guilty to all three theft charges on Feb. 26. Little turned himself in to the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office last month after being indicted by a local grand jury. He was arrested and released after posting a $15,000 bond.

Little, a Cullman Democrat, served as Alabama’s Senate majority leader from 2002 until 2010 and served as the Cullman area’s District 4 Senate representative from 1998 until 2010.

A grand jury indicted him on Feb. 11, accusing Little of the theft of more than $25,000 in client trust funds. Both local circuit judges have recused themselves from Little’s case. If necessary, the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts will designate a presiding judge. The state attorney general’s office is prosecuting the case against Little.