May 26, 2013
Architect Curtis Kirsch told a Birmingham newspaper that authorities are attempting to indict him, so he hired defense lawyer David Byrne.
Gov. Don Siegelman's attorney, David Cromwell Johnson of Birmingham, accused prosecutors of threatening Kirsch and other people involved in a deal to try to obtain testimony.
Investigators are investigating a $330,000 check from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to G.H. Construction.
The payment -- made in February 2001 -- included more than $161,500 for work done by Kirsch and Sam Donze, another architect.
The Siegelman administration stopped the warehouse project and began an internal probe after a Mobile newspaper published stories about the deal.
A criminal investigation has resulted in three misdemeanor convictions, two from plea agreements made in exchange for cooperation and testimony. The only felony charge brought so far resulted in an acquittal.
