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Lowndes County Sheriff Chris West reported to the Hayneville Municipal Court Thursday morning to face charges related to a June 2024 incident. The hearing, which began at 9 a.m., ended minutes later due to the absence of a prosecuting attorney.

Hayneville Municipal Judge Kameisha Logan reset the hearing for April 10.

The hearing resulted from two warrants — harassment and obstructing government operations — sworn against West by County Commissioner Robert Harris in February. In a complaint Harris filed in Hayneville on Aug. 24, 2024, the commissioner alleges the Sheriff interrupted a June 24, 2024, commission meeting and threated commissioners with arrest. A warrant was issued for West in August and West’s most recent trial appearance is a renewed attempt by the town to prosecute the Sheriff.

On March 12, Rice filed a motion with the Hayneville Court to dismiss the latest charges against West, who already stood trial for Harris’s Aug. 24 2024 complaint. Former Hayneville Judge Fred Bell dismissed the charge for harassment during a Nov. 13, 2024 hearing and later also dismissed the charge of obstruction in an order he issued Nov. 28, 2024.

Rice’s motion requests dismissal of the charges, citing unlawful detainment of the Sheriff, the town of Hayneville’s abuse of power and detrimental public policy, previous dismissal of the charges, the absence of witnesses for current charges, an impermissible attempt at double jeopardy, failure of the charge of harassment in meeting the legal standard under Alabama law.

Requests submitted to Logan for access to the latest deposition in this case remain unanswered. The trial has been reset to April 10.