CULLMAN, Ala. – Stephen L. Singleton, 72, of Cullman, who was charged in February 2020 with the theft of more than $200,000 from the Cullman County Fair Association, recently pleaded guilty to the more serious of two counts levied against him, seeing the lesser charge dismissed and receiving a five year prison sentence that was suspended in favor of five years’ probation and monthly restitution payments. Though the actual dollar amount of the funds in question was not revealed back in February, court records reveal it as $365,291.75.
The official charges included aggravated theft by deception of an amount in excess of $200,000 (guilty plea) and theft of property in an amount in excess of $2,500. The charges in the indictment read:
COUNT I
STEPHEN L. SINGLETON whose name is otherwise unknown to the affiant, did prior to the date of discovery of the facts of the deception, to-wit: on or about March 2013 commit the crime of aggravated theft by deception by committing a theft of foreign or domestic funds, cash, or cash equivalent, including, but not limited to, stocks bonds investments, or retirement accounts in an amount exceeding Two Hundred Thousand dollars ($ 200,000.00) the funds of CULLMAN COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION and said funds were obtained by deception, in violation of Title 13A-8-2.1 (a) (1) of the Code of Alabama
COUNT II
STEPHEN L. SINGLETON, whose name is otherwise unknown to the affiant, did on or about March 4, 2013, knowingly obtain by deception or exert unauthorized control over property to-wit: a further and better description of which is otherwise unknown to the affiant, the property of CULLMAN COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION of the value of an amount exceeding Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars, with the intent to deprive the owner of said property in violation of Title 13A-8-3 (a) of the CODE OF ALABAMA
Plea agreement
Singleton entered a plea of guilty to aggravated theft by deception. He was given a sentence of five years in prison, with the prison sentence suspended. Instead, he was placed on five years’ supervised probation and was ordered to pay restitution of:
- $365,291.75 to the Fair Association
- $750 in bail bond fees
- $25 in Crime Victims Compensation Assessment
- $100 to the Forensic Science Trust Fund
Restitution payments are scheduled to begin in October, set at $50 per month. According to a source at the Cullman County Courthouse, at the time of sentencing, Singleton had already returned to the Fair Association a substantial portion of the money that was taken. This, combined with a review of the defendant’s current financial status, led to the determination of the monthly amount.
Copyright 2020 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
