A retired judge denied former Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely’s request for a new trial.
Judge Pamela Willis Baschab issued a brief order denying he and his attorneys’ request on Sept. 10. Blakely is out of jail on a $50,000 bail.
His attorneys first asked for a new trial on Aug. 30, claiming there was insufficient evidence in convicting Blakely. They also argued that the Athens city jury made rulings that violated his individual rights. Blakely appealed to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals.
Blakely was found guilty of two felony counts on August 2. He was found guilty of theft for stealing $4,000 from his campaign account, which he funneled into the Red Bricks consulting company. Blakely was also found guilty of personal gain due to taking $29,050 in inmates’ loans from a jail safe.
The felonies caused Blakely to be immediately removed from office. He was sentenced to three years in jail on August 20. A two-year probation sentencing was eliminated last month.
Blakely was county sheriff for nearly 10 terms, beginning his first term 38 years ago. Gov. Kay Ivey issued Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin as his replacement, who was the chief investigator at Limestone County’s district attorney’s office.