Nodine's Attorney Speaks On Investigation

An attorney representing Mobile County Commissioner Steve Nodine told News 5 the county commissioner first thought the marijuana investigation was a practical joke.
Wednesday, the Mobile County Sheriff's Office announced that an employee at the county garage reported finding what appeared to be marijuana in Nodine's county truck.
It was there for maintenance.
The sheriff said he met with Nodine and informed him of the investigation.
He was not arrested.
Nodine hired attorney Dom Soto to represent him.
Speaking of Nodine, Soto said, "His Christmas Eve took a real nosedive."
Soto said the truck was out of Nodine's possession for at least three hours Wednesday morning before the marijuana was found.
Nodine had dropped it off at the county garage for service.
Soto said anyone could have put the marijuana in the truck.
He said, "That vehicle is assigned to the commissioner, but it is used by others."
Soto said Nodine was expecting the pickup to be brought back to him after the maintenance was done.
He said when it didn't arrive, he asked an investigator from the Mobile District Attorney's Office to give him a ride to the garage.
Soto said Nodine "gets to the garage, the deputies are there, and he's joking with the deputies and he says, 'Get out of the way. I need to get to my car,' and they say, 'No, something was found in there.' He thought it was a practical joke."
When he found out it was anything but, Nodine told News 5 he offered to give a blood and urine sample.
He also said the sheriff's office declined his offer.
Soto said, "He volunteered that and we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
But sources tell News 5 that Nodine never volunteered the blood and urine samples.
In fact, they said they encouraged him to take the tests, but he has not done so yet.
We asked sheriff's officials whether the offer was ever made, but, so far, they have declined to comment.
In the meantime, Soto is hoping his client's Christmas wish will come true.
Soto said, "It would be nice if that were a prank or something, that someone would come forward and understand that that this is a political career that could be jeopardized by this if it is a prank or some sort of mistake."
But Soto said both he and Nodine have a lot of confidence in the sheriff and the legal system.
They believe no charges will be filed.