State Representative Tracy Estes accused of making violent threats

September 20, 2024 – Winfield – State Representative Tracy Estes (R-Winfield) presentative had a protection order filed against him accusing him of making violent threats.

Estes was booked for a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence. The charges were made by his wife – Christina Estes.

Christina Estes, said in a legal filing that Rep. Estes cursed her during an argument at their home on Friday. She then locked herself in her room. He then spent two hours beating on the dorr and threatening her with a beating. She claims in the filing that such behavior has occurred several times during their marriage.

Mrs. Estes has filed a petition for protection from abuse in the filing in the Circuit Court of Marion County.

Christina said that Rep. Estes was verbally abusive and threatened he with harm causing her to fear for her safety.

The court ordered Estes to turn over all of his firearms and to not go within 300 feet of Mrs. Estes.

Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) said in a statement on Saturday that he had confidence that "our justice system will determine an appropriate course of action."

"Alabamian deserve the very best from their elected officials, and it's my expectation that House members are beyond reproach in both their professional and personal lives," said Ledbetter in a statement.

Estes is the fifth member of the 105 member Alabama House of Representatives to be charged with a crime in the last 32 months. Reps. Fred "Coach" Plump (D-Fairfield) and John Rogers (D-Birmingham) were both charged and pleaded guilty in a corruption scheme to steal $200,000 from an underprivileged children's baseball league. Rep. David Cole (R-Madison) was charged and pleaded guilty to voting outside of his assigned polling place. Rep. Kelvin Lawrence (D-Hayneville) was arrested and charged with possession of a forged instrument and building homes without having a homebuilder's license. He is awaiting trial in his case. Lawrence maintains that he is innocent of the charges.

Estes has previously been divorced. He was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives for the seventeenth district 2018 and re-elected in 2022. He previously served the people of Marion County on the Board of Education. Estes is age 57.

A charge is simply an accusation. Estes, like all accused persons, is presumed to be innocent until convicted before a jury of their peers.

(Based on original reporting by Bryan Lyman of the Alabama Reflector and the Associated Press.)

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