Former Lauderdale County judge sentenced to 12 years in prison

LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — The former Lauderdale County judge was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Wednesday for several ethics charges.

Gil Self was sentenced on Wednesday for 14 counts of intentionally using his office for personal gain, one count of unintentional use of his office for personal gain and two counts of perjury. Each set of charges carries a different number of months to be served concurrently.

He was initially facing 18 charges related to allegations that he had misused court funds. On Nov. 7, Self was found guilty of 17 of those charges. He was found not guilty of use of official position for personal gain for hiring his son.

News 19 was in the courtroom for the entire three weeks of his ethics trial and his sentencing hearing on Wednesday.

The State argued that Self deserved to serve a custodial sentence as he was in a position of power and had a responsibility to the community.

An appeal has been filed, and a $20,000 bond has been set, according to News 19 crews in the courtroom.