Fayette Woman Avoids Prison After Stealing Nearly $91k From Nonprofits

FAYETTE, AL — A former bank employee avoided prison time Monday by entering a guilty plea charges of stealing nearly $91,000 from two area non-profits.

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24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Andy Hamlin said Sherrin Leigh Henegar, 47, pleaded guilty to first-degree theft at a hearing Monday. The conviction results from her time as the treasurer for the Fayette County Band Foundation, which saw her transfer the foundation’s money to her accounts for personal use.

Henegar was sentenced to eight years in prison and three years of supervised probation, but managed to avoid a prison stay due to her plea agreement. She will, however, be required to serve seven months of confinement in the Fayette County Jail.

Hamlin did point out, though, that Henegar could be ordered to serve the full eight years in state prison if she violates any conditions of her probation.

As part of the sentencing order, she will also be required to repay the entire $90,976 stolen from the Fayette Band Foundation and the Jerry Bobo Scholarship Fund.

According to a press release provided on Thursday, the scholarship fund is named in memory of Fayette County High School’s former, longtime band director and is awarded to high school seniors who plan to study music education.

Hamlin said the thefts were reported to his office in 2020 after they were discovered during an internal audit.

"Investigators with the District Attorney’s Criminal Investigation Division determined that Henegar transferred $85,777 from holdings of the Fayette Band Foundation, including $5,150 from the Jerry Bobo Scholarship fund," Hamlin said. "In total, it was determined that Henegar made more than 90 transactions and distributed the ill-begotten funds into accounts belonging to her and her children."

According to Hamlin's office, the outstanding amount was paid in full as of Thursday morning.

Henegar reportedly turned herself in at the Fayette County Jail Wednesday to begin serving the jail term.

“This was a complicated case. Mrs. Henegar had gone to great lengths to conceal the thefts," Hamlin said. "The bank staff, representatives of the band foundation, along with my office’s investigators did an excellent job in finding and documenting each instance.

“This case was very important to my office and to the generations of people that have poured their heart and soul into making the band foundation a success," he added. "I’m glad it was brought to a successful resolution and that the band has been made whole.”

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