WALKER COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) — The embattled sheriff of Walker County is challenging prosecutors’ claims regarding the severity of the crimes he is accused of, asserting they were intentionally misstated to influence the next year’s election.

On Monday, Sheriff Nick Smith faced indictment on charges related to employing six men as deputies who were not certified by the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission. Similarly, Chief Deputy Ralph Williams was accused of deceiving the APOSTC about dismissing a deputy who remained employed.

Specifically, Smith faces six counts of violating the standards for hiring law enforcement officers. Under the Code of Alabama, this charge is a misdemeanor carrying fines of no more than $1,000.

During a press conference announcing the charges against Smith, however, District Attorney Bill Adair claimed the charges could result in up to three months in jail and a $500 fine on each charge.

“That it is the belief of Sheriff Smith that the District Attorney has purposely misstated/overstated the penalty for the charges against the Sheriff for the express purpose of negatively influencing potential voters in the upcoming election,” wrote Thomas Carmichael, Smith’s attorney.

Following the indictment, which he called “lawfare” and a “political arrest,” Smith accused Adair of going after him to help Jason Akins, who is running against him in an election to be held August 25, 2026. Responding to Smith’s accusations, Adair said the sheriff was living in an “alternate reality.”

Carmichael has requested that the penalty for the charges against Smith be certified to reflect no jail time and no more than a $1,000 fine.

The case is ongoing.