DOTHAN, Ala. — A former investigator with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, accused of stealing cash evidence related to a 2022 bank robbery, will avoid prison time after reaching a plea agreement with the District Attorney’s Office and the Houston County Sheriff’s Office. Chris Summerlin, who was charged with theft of property in the second degree, has been granted pre-trial diversion, court records show.
Summerlin, who had been employed as an investigator in the Criminal Investigation Division of the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, was accused of taking approximately $2,200 in cash evidence that had been recovered from the robbery. The money was part of a larger sum totaling around $5,000, which was intended to be returned to MidSouth Bank.
The theft was discovered during an effort by the Sheriff’s Office to return the stolen funds to the bank, when investigators noticed that $2,200 was missing. Following an internal investigation, Summerlin was fired from his position within the Sheriff’s Office just before he turned himself in to authorities.
Under the terms of the diversion agreement, Summerlin has already paid restitution for the stolen money and has been ordered to complete theft prevention classes. He has also been required to forfeit his certification from the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, if Summerlin successfully completes all of the program’s requirements and avoids any further legal trouble, the charges against him will be dismissed.
Summerlin was arrested in August 2024 and charged with theft of property in the second degree. The case has raised questions about accountability and transparency within law enforcement agencies, as well as the consequences for officers accused of criminal behavior.
Although Summerlin will not face prison time, the resolution of this case has highlighted concerns over how such incidents are handled within the justice system, particularly in cases involving former law enforcement officers.
