Doug Ghee, 78, a prominent former east Alabama attorney and ex-state senator now faces accusations from a second woman after a 28-year-old woman filed a lawsuit against him in August, alleging that he sexually assaulted her while restrained in handcuffs in a Calhoun County Jail visiting room for lawyers and clients.
The initial lawsuit states the the disgraced attorney and former senator, allegedly told the victim he was friends with the judge and assistant district attorney assigned to her cases, implying he could get her a better deal than the one that was offered to her.
The offer, however, was contingent on the woman hiring Ghee for $2,500 and "agreeing to be his sex slave" following her release from custody.
Saraland attorney Travis Johns filed the second lawsuit against Ghee earlier this week in Calhoun County Circuit on behalf of the second woman, 27, who revealed her 2022 involvement in a divorce battle amid a DHR investigation after her child ingested a CBD gummy.
The lawsuit alleges that meeting his demands would benefit her in her ongoing divorce and child custody battle.
The victim met with Ghee in October 2022 and paid him a retainer of $1,800.
The following day, Ghee called her back to his office, where she learned her husband had filed for divorce, which prompted another "flat fee" of $3,500 to retain Ghee and the firm for the divorce proceedings.
The lawsuit further states that Ghee asked her whether she "was good at keeping secrets."
As the meeting went on, the woman explained she didn't feel comfortable going to court yet due to the fear she may fail a drug test.
Once more, Ghee asked if she was good at keeping secrets before he blocked the exit, pushed her against the door, and sexually assaulted her.
He then told her, "Look, if you want to have the upper hand in court and get what you want, you'll do what I say," before going on to say he could talk to the judge off the record and get her what she wanted.
"At this point, Doug realized that he had successfully converted his client into a controllable victim and began to further take advantage of her,'' the 27-year-old's lawyer wrote in the suit.
From October 2022 through February 2023, Ghee met with his "client" at least eight times at his office or at undisclosed homes.
He allegedly took medication she believed to be Viagra during the visits and forced her to engage in sex.
No criminal charges have been filed against Ghee, but in late July, Calhoun County Sheriff Matthew Wade confirmed there was an active investigation into both incidents.
Wade said the case had expanded to include "a large amount of digital evidence and multiple individuals."
"This takes time,'' he added without naming the attorney at the center of the investigation.
"As sheriff, I stand for justice and righteousness. We will find the truth, and I will fight for those who can't."
Seventh Judicial Circuit Court Presiding Judge Shannon Page issued an administrative order barring Ghee from being assigned to indigent defense cases following the revelations.
Earlier this week, Ghee was forced to surrender his law license "pursuant to the Alabama Rules of Disciplinary Procedure," according to a document obtained by AL.com.
