Nodine facing charges, impeachment

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile County Commissioner Steve Nodine had nothing to say to reporters as he walked into Metro Jail. Nodine was booked on drug charges stemming from an incident in December when marijuana was found in his county issued truck.

"God will, God will show the way and have mercy on everyone," said Nodine as he was exiting the jail.

But, according to Baldwin County District Attorney Judy Newcomb, Nodine could soon be facing a more serious charge.

"We have determined that the evidence indicates that Angel Downs did not intentionally take her own life, that the investigation into this case is ongoing and continuing, that we are using all of our resources to conduct a thorough investigation so that we can bring this matter to a resolution," Newcomb said.

The district attorney said Nodine is the only suspect in the murder investigation. But so far he has not been charged in that case.

The grand jury also indicted Nodine on separate impeachment charges. Those charges include willful neglect of duty, corruption in office, incompetency, substance abuse, and moral turpitude.

The impeachment report states Nodine was under the influence when he drove his truck to a Mexican restaurant in Daphne after Downs was killed.

The report says during his extra-marital relationship with Angel Downs, he committed multiple acts of domestic violence.

And the grand jury says between March 2009 and January of this year, Nodine obtained more than 24 hundred Lortabs from at least nine different pharmacies in four states from at least four doctors.

Nodine's impeachment case will go to trial in the next 20 to 30 days, and a jury will decide if he should be removed from office. But Nodine could avoid an impeachment trial if he resigns.