Woman pleads guilty to hindering prosecution

By Sheryl Marsh
smarsh@decaturdaily.com · 340-2437

A woman who cleaned houses pleaded guilty in Morgan County Circuit Court to hindering prosecution in an alleged cover-up of a theft her sister committed at one of the homes.

Rachel McDonald, 46, of 210 Pearl St. S.W., Hartselle, entered the plea to second-degree hindering prosecution in Morgan County Circuit Court.

Initially, she was charged with first-degree hindering prosecution, a felony, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge, which is a misdemeanor, records show.

Circuit Judge Steve Haddock sentenced McDonald to 12 months in the county jail, but suspended the sentence and placed her on probation for 24 months.

The case against McDonald stemmed from a theft case against her sister, June Scott, 47, of 1522 Forestview Drive S.W., a court official said.

Authorities said Scott went to work with McDonald at a home at Somerville and stole the resident’s credit card. Reportedly, Scott charged $6,579.40 on the card. An official said that after McDonald found out about it, she tried to repay the money but could not, and that’s when she was charged.

Scott pleaded guilty in May 2006 to second-degree theft and received a two-year suspended sentence. A judge placed her on probation for two years, according to records.

The judge also ordered Scott to pay restitution for the amount she used on the credit card.

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