Fmr. senator charged with ethics violations asks for case docume - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Former State Senator Lowell Barron wants to restrict the public's access to documents pertaining to his alleged ethics violations.

Barron, who was charged with multiple counts of violating state ethics laws and the fair campaign practices act, has asked that all documents filed by the state pertaining to his case be put under seal "so that they do not undermine the likelihood of a fair trial."

DOCUMENT: READ THE FULL MOTION HERE

 This motion specifically requests that the state not file any document that includes any allegation about the defendants, Lowell Ray Barron and Rhonda "Jill" Johnson, or any evidence pertaining to them unless those documents are filed under seal.

Barron's attorney, Joe Espy, writes in the motion that the granting of this motion would not cause any harm to the state and would not stop them from filing any documents. They just ask that those documents not be in the public domain so they would not "undermine the likelihood of a fair trial."

On Tuesday morning Joe Espy clarified that the specific documents targeted in this motion are the 404B and discovery documents that contain evidence not yet vetted by a judge for use at trial. Espy added that this is a common step that he takes in any case he takes to trial.

 The former democratic senator and former staff member and assistant Rhonda "Jill" Johnson are accused of converting multiple campaign checks for Johnson's personal use and for improperly using campaign funds for non-campaign purposes.

If convicted, both Barron and Johnson face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and fines of up to $30,000 for each of the six counts in the indictment.

Copyright 2013  WSFA 12 News.  All rights reserved.