Prosecutor tells Decatur jury Schmitz did little for pay

DECATUR — A federal prosecutor has told jurors in Decatur that state Rep. Sue Schmitz used her connection to the state’s most powerful politicians to get a job in the two-year college system, then did little work and was rarely seen at her Huntsville office.
Prosecutor William Athanas told jurors in opening statements Tuesday that the government would prove Schmitz did not earn the more than $177,000 she earned in three years working for a two-year system program.

But defense attorney Buck Watson said Schmitz was dedicated to the program that helps troubled teenagers. He said she worked hard promoting the program across the state. Watson said Schmitz ``did not steal’‘ from the federally funded program.

The opening statements came after a jury of 14 men and two women was selected to hear the trial of Schmitz. That includes four alternates.