Judge rules for Autauga County Commission in jail funding dispute with sheriff

A judge has ruled in favor of the Autauga County Commission, dismissing all claims filed by Autauga County Sheriff Mark Harrell with prejudice and denying requests for further mold testing and “all other relief requests,” an order the court labeled a final judgment. The court wrote, “Plaintiff has failed to establish a clear legal duty that has not been performed, and no justiciable controversy exists.”

Harrell filed a 20-page complaint in Autauga Circuit Court in May 2025 naming commissioners Rushton “Rusty” Jacksland, Bill Tatum, John Thrailkill, Jay Thompson and Terry Tanner. The suit sought a declaratory judgment and a court order compelling the commission to pass a budget that would provide funding for jail maintenance and staffing, including funding for 20 new deputies, according to filings and contemporaneous reporting. The Autauga County Metro Jail was closed in June because of mold, and Montgomery Advertiser reporting in May 2025 noted the facility was expected to reopen in November 2025; the county paid an estimated $1.68 million to house inmates at other facilities through May.

In defending the case, the commission moved to dismiss and presented evidence that it had distributed approximately $10 million to fund the Sheriff’s Office and the jail, a sum characterized in court filings as more than half of the county’s general fund budget. The county’s public statement asserted that nearly 60% of the general fund goes to the sheriff’s budget and that jail renovations began prior to Harrell’s May lawsuit. County filings, as reported, also criticized the credentials of Harrell’s expert, Kevin Ricke of A+ Cleaning and Restoration, noting Ricke’s training consisted of online courses totaling about 40 hours.

The court found no legitimate dispute over material facts relevant to Harrell’s claims and concluded the commission had complied with its legal duty to maintain the jail and its equipment in a state of repair. The order also noted that Harrell did not include a request for additional courthouse security personnel in his submitted budget, a fact the court treated as relevant to his claims about staffing needs.

Autauga County officials issued immediate reactions. County Commission Chairman Jay Thompson said, “Im just glad this case is over. No one in Autauga County has benefited from this ordeal, and I look forward to putting it behind us. Sadly, this debacle has cost taxpayers millions of dollars that could have been used in ways to actually benefit our community.” Commissioner Rusty Jacksland said, in part, “the Courts decision confirms what weve been saying all along: this Commission is committed to protecting and serving the people of Autauga County... Simply put, the Judges ruling is that the Sheriff failed to present any argument that would result in him getting something from the Court. In his lawsuit, the facts and the law did not support his position. Thankfully, the Judge saw it the way the County Commission has seen it from Day One... I also believe the fact that Sheriff requested an 82% pay raise for himselfduring this process was definitely noticed by the Court.” A county official identified only as “Shirley” told the Montgomery Advertiser, “It is unfortunate that the sheriff has taken this course of action.”

The court’s final judgment ends this round of litigation but the public record released by the commission and local coverage did not name the presiding judge or provide a calendar date for the ruling, and Sheriff Mark Harrell offered no public response in the county statement. Local WSFA social engagement on the ruling included a station Facebook post registering 38 reactions, 6 comments and 7 shares.