Devyn Keith, a member of the Huntsville City Council, has been arrested for theft. Is Devyn Keith currently incarcerated? What charges is he facing? Let’s take a closer look. Last week, on February 2, Councilman Devin Keith of Huntsville, Alabama, was taken into custody for an alleged theft at a Walmart on University Drive. He has been charged with fourth-degree theft, a Class A misdemeanor that carries a penalty of up to a year in prison and a $6,000 fine.
Devyn Keith, who was elected to the Huntsville City Council in 2016 and re-elected in 2020, is serving his second term. His district includes parts of downtown, North Huntsville, and Alabama A&M University.
Current Jail Status of Devyn Keith
After the incident at the University Drive Walmart, Devyn Keith was arrested but was released on the same day. Huntsville Police officers arrived at 6140 University Drive in response to an unrelated incident, where they were informed of a shoplifting occurrence at a nearby Walmart. Devyn Keith, who has been a council member since 2016, was identified as the shoplifter, taken into custody, and placed in Madison County Jail. However, he was released at 5:34 p.m. on the day of his arrest after the initial investigation. Keith addressed the situation on his Facebook page the following day, explaining that he had inadvertently left the store without paying for a $20 pair of headphones at the self-service checkout. This prompted individuals to share similar forgetful experiences at self-service checkouts. Keith has received support from friends and well-wishers in light of the shoplifting charge.
Additional Theft Charges Against Devyn Keith
Subsequent to the shoplifting incident and his initial arrest, Devyn Keith has been charged with one count of theft of property – stealing items valued at $500 or less. According to Alabama law, this offense constitutes a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in prison and a $6,000 fine. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warrant for Keith’s arrest on these new theft charges.
As a result of the new charges, Devyn Keith is facing four misdemeanor counts for allegedly stealing additional merchandise from a Walmart store. The case, initially under the jurisdiction of the Huntsville Police Department, has been transferred to the Madison County District Attorney’s Office to avoid any conflicts of interest or perceived bias. Devyn Keith’s attorney, John Taylor, declined to provide a comment at this time.
Background Information on Devyn Keith
Devyn Keith, serving his second term as a City Council member in Huntsville, Alabama, was first elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Samford University (2012) and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from The University of Massachusetts Boston (2016). Upon his election to the Huntsville City Council in 2016, Keith became the city’s youngest elected official and the youngest person to serve as President of the City Council.