Edward “Chip” Dillard
LAUDERDALE COUNTY-Attorney Edward “Chip” Dillard, 51 and Tim Staggs, 83 have been indicted by a grand jury which convened at the bequest of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office.
Dillard and Staggs were arrested and booked into the Lauderdale County Detention Center on multiple human trafficking charges Thursday, May 26.
Dillard is being held on a $500,000 cash only bond and Staggs is being held on a $300,000 cash bond.
According to the indictment, Dillard has been charged with seven counts of human trafficking in the 2nd degree, four counts of conspiracy to commit human trafficking in the 2nd degree, one count of sexual abuse in the 2nd degree, two counts of making terroristic threats and one count of intimidating a witness.
Staggs has been charged, in the same indictment, with five counts of human trafficking in
Tim Staggs
the 2nd degree and four counts of conspiracy to commit human trafficking.
Both men have been accused of using various methods to take advantage of young female victims in the Lauderdale County area.
Attorney General Strange is asking anyone who has information related to possible crimes that may have been committed by these two men to please come forward. Strange also thanked those involved in the case, which was a cooperative effort by the Attorney General’s Office and numerous other agencies.
Person may contact the Attorney General’s Office at 334.242.7300.
Penalties range from two to 20 years for each count of human trafficking 2nd degree, a class B felony; one to 10 years for each count of conspiracy to commit human trafficking in the 2nd degree, a class C felony; one to 10 years for making a terroristic threat, a class C felony; up to one year for sexual abuse in the2nd degree, a class A misdemeanor; and one to 10 years for intimidating a witness, a class C felony.
