Terry Spicer admits to accepting thousands in bribes

A former state representative and Elba City Schools System superintendent pleaded guilty Nov. 15 to a felony bribery charge involving two defendants in an Alabama vote-buying scheme.

Terry Spicer, 47, pleaded guilty to federal programs bribery-a felony charge that has a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Spicer admitted before U.S. District Judge William Capell he accepted monthly payments from Montgomery lobbyist Jarrod Massey beginning in 2006 in exchange for the former representative's aid in passing favorable legislation that included a pro-gambling bill and providing Massey with new clients.

While being questioned by federal prosecutor Rae Woods, Spicer admitted that prior to 2006 he accepted monthly payments of between $1,000 and $1,500 from Massey.

The payments increased in 2008 to an average between $2,000 and $3,000.

In December 2008, Spicer accepted a $9,000 payment from Massey used as a down payment for a recreational ski boat, according to Woods.

During the same timeframe Massey also sent Spicer and his family on a ski vacation in Breckenridge, Col.

While receiving payments from Massey, Spicer also accepted bribes in the form of campaign contributions from Enterprise developer Ronnie Gilley.

According to Woods, Spicer solicited $20,000 in campaign contributions from Gilley.

The contribution, according to Woods, was in exchange for Spicer's assistance in passing legislation that created a community development district for Country Crossing-a Houston County development that heralded its main attraction as electronic bingo.

Bribes continued between Gilley and Spicer from 2008 until 2010 in the form of more than 300 tickets for the BamaJam Music and Arts Festival in Enterprise, valued at $22,500, Spicer admitted in court.

He also received a $10,000 campaign contribution from Gilley in June 2009. The money directly came from Massey, who was employed by Gilley during that timeframe and was lobbying for pro-gambling legislation.

Massey and Gilley pleaded guilty to numerous charges including bribery for their roles in the alleged vote-buying scheme geared towards passing pro-gambling legislation in Alabama.

Defense attorney David Belser said Spicer's sentencing could come as early as January 2012, but he hopes the sentencing will occur following the retrial of state legislators and businessmen accused of participation in the alleged vote-buying scheme.

Spicer has been cooperating with federal attorneys prosecuting defendants including state Sen. Harri Ann Smith and Victoryland owner Milton McGregor since 2009.

"He is ready, willing and able to help the government," Belsar said following Spicer's plea Tuesday morning.

Spicer may testify as a prosecution witness during the retrial scheduled for January of next year.

Both Gilley and Massey testified for the prosecution during an initial corruption trial during the summer that resulted in a jury dismissing a majority of the charges coconspirators faced.

Gilley testified during a recent federal gambling corruption trial involving numerous state legislators and businessmen that he had given Spicer "a box of cash" in exchange for his support in passing the gambling legislation.

Massey also admitted in court while being personal friends with Spicer he paid the former representative about $3,000 a month-money he said was given in exchange for Spicer's aid in obtaining clients and relocating businesses to the Elba area.

Spicer's plea is not his first brush with political controversy.

As a state representative, Spicer was the point of public and political contention for several years.

He was one of 13 legislators employed by Alabama's two-year college system when the Alabama Board of Education approved policy prohibiting legislators from being employed in the state's college system.

What has since been dubbed a "double-dipping ban" was adopted in August 2007 and enacted in 2010.

Prior to the ban's enactment, Spicer was one of seven legislators who either retired or resigned from their community college positions.

He was employed at Enterprise State Community College as the assistant to the president for economic and community development before accepting in October 2009 as superintendent of Elba City Schools.

When negotiations between the Elba City School Board and Spicer became public in September of that year, Spicer became the center of controversy for a second time.

Spicer's salary increased from $100,000 while at ESCC to $106,941 during his first year of employment with the school system.

Though many officials and the Alabama Republican Party called for Spicer's resignation from the state House of Representatives, Spicer left his legislative future in the hands of the Elba City School Board.

Board members offered support for Spicer's decision to remain in the legislature.

He lost a reelection bid for District 91 representative in November 2010 after serving almost 12 years in the office.

During an October school board meeting, board members agreed to allow Spicer to continue as superintendent until entering his felony guilty plea.

According to the Alabama Board of Education, an individual convicted of a felony cannot serve as a superintendent in the public school system.

The board Nov. 14, however, placed Spicer in the newly-created position of director of operations.

Because he will continue his employment throughout the remainder of the year and into 2012, Spicer will reach 25 years of public school employment and be eligible to collect his retirement from the Retirement Systems of Alabama.