Blount County DA says sheriff threatened to harrass her over prosecution of drug trafficker

An Alabama district attorney claims the Blount County sheriff threatened to harass her and her family for prosecuting a friend of the sheriff, according to court documents made public Thursday.

The ordeal involves Blount County Sheriff Mark Moon and Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey and is centered on the prosecution of 44-year-old Lewis Donald “Luke” Floyd Jr.

Court documents allege the sheriff told Floyd he would buy a camper and set it up near the sheriff’s office to house Floyd during his incarceration so he wouldn’t have to “stay in jail with all them other terds (sic).”

Moon also told Floyd he was subjecting Casey and her family to “unwarranted surveillance, enforcement practices, and/or other form of harassment” in retaliation for prosecuting Floyd’s case, the documents state.

Casey’s office said they would not comment beyond what was stated in court records. Moon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The allegations were made public as Floyd unsuccessfully sought a judge’s approval to serve the remainder of his sentence in community corrections rather than state prison.

Floyd’s attorney, Bradley Boyd, said if anything like that was discussed — that he knows about — “it appeared to be a one-way, unilateral conversation of things that aren’t attributable to Mr. Floyd.”

Floyd in May 2017 was arrested in Blount County and charged with trafficking roughly 58 grams of methamphetamine.

Prior to that arrest, records state, Floyd was convicted of two drug felonies in Etowah County and pleaded guilty to a felony drug charge in Etowah County.

Floyd in 2020 was convicted of possession of a controlled substance and of unauthorized use of a vehicle in 2022.

Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey poses at the Blount County Courthouse on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011. Casey, then 29, was the youngest female ever elected as a district attorney in Alabama. (The Birmingham News / Michelle Campbell)BN FTP

Despite his status as a habitual offender, records state, Blount County prosecutors offered Floyd a sentence of 15 years in prison in exchange for him pleading guilty to methamphetamine trafficking. Floyd in March 2024 entered his guilty plea and applied for probation.

In May, Georgia issued a writ for Floyd’s arrest for violating the terms and conditions of his probation there.

On May 24, records show, a judge split Floyd’s sentence, over the state’s objection, to three years to serve. Floyd was given credit for 18 months served while awaiting trial and was ordered to spend 12 months of his sentence in the custody of the Blount County sheriff.

That same day, he surrendered to authorities in Georgia for on his outstanding warrant for probation violation.

“Within 72 hours of the probation/sentencing hearing in this case, the Blount County Sheriff told Floyd the Blount County Sheriff’s Department would subject the District Attorney … and her family to unwarranted surveillance, enforcement practices, and/or other forms of harassment in retaliation for prosecuting Floyd’s case,’’ Blount County Assistant District Attorney Scott Gilliland wrote Thursday in a court filing opposing Floyd’s request to be moved from state prison to community corrections.

In August, filings show, a judge amended Floyd’s sentence to serve the remainder of his sentence in state prison.

From May 24 through September, Gilliland wrote, Floyd and Moon “had multiple conversations about ways to undermine the sentencing order entered by this Honorable Court and/or give Floyd special privileges in the event Floyd was transferred to Blount County.”

Initially, prosecutors contend, Moon told Floyd he would purchase a camper with his office’s discretionary funds and set it up in a grassy area near the Blount County Sheriff’s Department for Floyd to stay in during his incarceration.

“The sheriff updated Floyd from time to time about campers the sheriff had considered purchasing including a camper Floyd’s father-in-law had for sale,’’ documents state.

“The Sheriff told Floyd if he could not get the camper set up in time, Floyd could sleep on the couch in the Sheriff‘s office and/or the sheriff was toying with the idea of letting Floyd go home at night, so Floyd did not have to ‘stay in jail with all them other terds.’’’

Documents state Moon discussed giving Floyd access to cigars, a cell phone and other contraband and allowing Floyd to travel to collect food for Redeemed Ministries while Floyd was in the custody of the Blount County Sheriff’s Office.

In September 2023, the sheriff’s office posted on Facebook a video of Floyd baptizing another inmate.

Moon wrote, “This one of the reasons I am willing to die on a certain hill. This is what happens when the Lord truly changes you.”

“Luke is one of my very best friends. He was an inmate in my jail six years ago. Now he’s a born again, blood-bought, man of God.”

“He’s married to a Godly woman. Started his own business and contributes to society, no longer a drain on it. People can change. Thank you Jesus for everything, including the battles with the enemy because I know it’s all for our good but for your Glory.”

Floyd remained in custody in Georgia until September and was then transferred to the Alabama Department of Corrections with a minimum release date of Sept. 9, 2025.

“Since May 24, 2024, the Blount County Sheriff has made multiple telephone calls and visits to probation officers in Alabama and Georgia at the behest of Floyd to attempt to influence and/or undermine the probation revocation process and court proceedings in both states,’’ Gilliland’s opposition filing states.

“Lewis Donald Floyd, Jr., has spent the last eight years trying to game the system in this case with a modest level of success,’’ Gilliland wrote. “He continues to attempt to circumvent the law, subvert the consequences of his actions, and con this Honorable Court.”

At a hearing held Thursday before Circuit Judge John Henry England Jr., the judge denied Floyd’s transfer to community corrections but may reconsider at a later time.