Escambia school board member arrested

BREWTON, Ala. - Authorities in Escambia County have arrested a school board member after he was indicted on allegations of fondling female inmates under his control when he was a corrections officer.

Sheriff Grover Smith said 51-year-old Richard Hawthorne was arrested Friday and was released from jail the same day after his wife posted $100,000 bail.

Hawthorne is charged with two counts of custodial sexual misconduct, two counts of ethics violations, two counts of prostitution, and one count of second-degree promoting prison contraband.

Smith said Hawthorne resigned as corrections officer shortly after an investigation began into allegations made by female inmates that he touched them sexually.

He is still a member of the Escambia County School Board, which he joined in 2001.