ALEA arrests suspect in connection to suspicious letters delivered to government officials

MONTGOMERY,

Ala. – On Wednesday, April 9, at approximately 9:14 a.m., Special Agents assigned to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) responded to the Alabama State House in Montgomery in response to three suspicious letters that were addressed to members of the Alabama House of Representatives. A fourth letter was sent to Governor Kay Ivey’s Office. Each individual letter included a number of pornographic images.

ALEA Special Agents immediately identified a person of interest and launched an investigation. The suspect, identified as John Watson, 54, of Dothan, was arrested and formally charged with four counts of dissemination of child pornography. Additional charges may be forthcoming.

Watson was booked into the Houston County Jail with no bond.

Watson, a former driver license examiner assigned to ALEA’s Driver License Division, was immediately placed on mandatory leave on Wednesday, April 9, as the Agency began the administrative process for termination. However, Watson resigned on Thursday, April 10, in lieu of termination.

Nothing further is available as the investigation is ongoing.