Mother And Son Accused Of Stealing $680K From Walker County Water Authority

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall on Thursday announced indictments against two Walker County residents accused of stealing more than $680,000 from the Providence Water Authority.

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Marshall said that Sharon Lei Windham, 61, faces two counts of first-degree theft of property and one count of first-degree theft of services.

Her son, Cody Warren Windham, 40, is also charged with one count of first-degree theft of property.

All of the charges against the two are Class B felonies, each carrying a potential sentence of two to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $30,000.

According to the indictments, Sharon Windham is accused of stealing $539,804.10 in customer cash payments meant for the water authority. She is also alleged to have failed to pay her own water bill, accruing $3,975.55 in unpaid charges, and to have illegally provided unauthorized water access to others totaling $17,925.49 in services.

Investigators say Cody Windham, who was not employed by the authority, stole $118,600 by using an authority-owned checkbook.

The Attorney General’s Office noted that Sharon’s mother, Marie Windham, 81, was employed by the authority and subcontracted her work to Sharon, but Marie Windham has not been charged.

The case is being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division.

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