Dothan city commissioner trial date set

Credit: Dothan City Jail

James Reading

By: Matt Elofson | Dothan Eagle
Published: September 01, 2010
Updated: September 01, 2010 - 3:01 PM

A trial date has been set for a judge to hear the evidence in the criminal case filed by a former Dothan city commissioner against a current city commissioner.

Court records show Houston County District Court Judge Benjamin Lewis will hear the misdemeanor harassment case filed against 71-year-old James Reading. The misdemeanor trial will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 28, at 8:30 a.m., and will not be determined by a jury, but by the court. Records show Reading has recently hired attorney Lexa Dowling to represent him on the criminal charge.

Houston County Sheriff's deputies arrested Reading on Aug. 7, after he turned himself into officials at the Houston County Jail. He was later released from custody after he posted a $300 bond.

The class C misdemeanor charge of harassment carries a possible punishment of up to 90 days in the Houston County Jail, along with a fine of up to $500.

Reading serves as the District 1 commissioner for the City of Dothan, but that seat was formerly held by Larry Matthews, who obtained the warrant for Reading's arrest.

Records show the warrant charged Reading with subjecting Matthews to physical contact on Tuesday, Aug. 3, which included grabbing him on the shirt sleeve, causing it to rip. The warrant also charged Reading with telling Matthews that he would "whoop his ass if he came to the (Dothan City Commission) meetings."

The incident happened at the City of Dothan's National Night Out against crime held at the Dothan Civic Center.

The complaint was filed with the county magistrate's office because it was a city of Dothan commissioner involved.

Dothan city commissioner trial date set

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