Former Alabama Senator and Attorney Indicted on Sexual Abuse Charge in Calhoun County
A former east Alabama attorney and state senator has been indicted on a felony charge of first-degree sexual abuse.
Doug Ghee, 79, was indicted by a Calhoun County grand jury, according to court records made public Thursday. The indictment stems from an investigation being prosecuted by the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. The identity of the alleged victim has not been disclosed, and officials say the case remains under investigation.
Ghee surrendered to the Calhoun County Jail on Thursday, accompanied by his attorney. He was released shortly afterward on a $5,000 bond. Court filings indicate that Ghee has waived arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty.
In the past year, two women have filed separate civil lawsuits against Ghee and his law firm, alleging sexual misconduct during attorney-client relationships. It remains unclear whether the victim in the criminal case is connected to either of those civil suits.
The first lawsuit, filed in August 2024, accuses Ghee of sexually assaulting a 28-year-old woman while she was handcuffed in a jail visiting room. The woman claims Ghee offered legal favors in exchange for sex and demanded she agree to serve as his “sex slave” upon release.
The second lawsuit was filed by a 27-year-old woman who retained Ghee during a divorce and DHR investigation. She alleges that Ghee sexually assaulted her during their first private meeting and continued to exploit her over several months. The lawsuit describes repeated incidents that occurred after hours at Ghee’s office and at private residences, where she says she was coerced into sex under threat of legal consequences.
Following the allegations last year, Ghee surrendered his law license under the Alabama Rules of Disciplinary Procedure.
Ghee began practicing law in 1975 and served in the Alabama Senate from 1990 to 1998. If convicted of first-degree sexual abuse, he could face a sentence of between one year and one day to 10 years in prison.
The Alabama Attorney General’s Office is encouraging anyone with information related to the case to contact its Investigations Division.
Attorney General Steve Marshall released the following statement:
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall today announced the indictment of Marshall Douglas Ghee, Sr. of Calhoun County, on one count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. Ghee, 79, was served with the indictment against him on Thursday and has been released on bail pending the resolution of the case.
If convicted, Ghee would be subject to a term of imprisonment of not more than 10 years or less than one year and one day.
No further information about the investigation or the alleged crime in this case may be released at this time as this is an ongoing investigation. If you have any information about this case, please contact the Attorney General’s Office Investigations Division at (334) 242-7300.
*An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
