Former Fayette County Probation Officer Sentenced For Sexual Misconduct, Ethics Violation

FAYETTE, AL — A Haleyville man who once worked as a probation officer in Fayette County will serve prison time after being convicted of sexual misconduct and using his position for personal gain.

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24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Andy Hamlin on Friday announced that Michael Steven Painter, 51, was sentenced to serve 30 years in prison for custodial sexual misconduct and use of official position or office for personal gain.

Hamlin said Painter was convicted after a jury trial held in December.

Fayette County Circuit Court Judge Sam Junkin sentenced Painter to serve 20 years in prison for the misconduct conviction and 10 years for the ethics conviction. The sentenced will be served consecutively.

Hamlin said Painter was employed as a probation officer assigned to Fayette County when a criminal investigation began in May 2020 following a report that Painter had engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a woman under his supervision, along with soliciting explicit photographs and videos from her.

Investigators then learned of explicit images and videos sent by Painter and numerous acts of custodial sexual misconduct.

"This defendant exploited the vulnerabilities of a woman who he was supposed to be helping,” Hamlin said. “She should have been able to trust him, and the court system should have been able to trust him. Instead, he abused his position of authority for his own gratification.”

Painter was subsequently arrested and fired from his job in May 2020.

"Actions like this undermine the public’s trust in law enforcement and the criminal justice system," Hamlin said. "I’m grateful to Judge Junkin for listening to the evidence and imposing this sentence, and hope that it sends a clear message that actions like his won’t be tolerated.”

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