Former prosecutor charged with arson

Published 9:32 pm Sunday, January 7, 2018

VALLEY — A former Chambers County prosecutor has been arrested on arson charges.

Roland Lewis Sledge, 64, of Valley, was arrested and charged with second-degree arson in connection with the Oct. 21 burning of a 305 U.S. Hwy. 29 home, near Valley High School. No one was injured in the blaze.

Sledge, who is also the owner of the damaged property, confessed to setting the fire during an interview, Maj. Mike Reynolds with the Valley Police Department said.

Reynolds noted that it was during a second interview that Sledge confessed.

“Usually the person who has the most to gain from the incident is focused on first,” he said.

Assisting with the investigation was the Alabama State Fire Marshall’s office and investigator from Alfa Insurance.

After being booked, Sledge was taken before District Court Judge Calvin Milford, where his previous bond for theft charges was revoked. He was taken to Russell County Jail where, he is currently being held.

Sledge, a former assistant district attorney in Chambers County, was terminated after allegations surfaced he was practicing as a private attorney and allegedly misappropriated funds while acting as a conservator for a minor child, according to an official release. Sledge was charged in the case.