James Graves was the chairman of the Cullman County Commission in 2008, but lost his re-election bid and lost the subsequent primary. He was also a member of the Republican Party Executive Committee. In May 2017, he was arrested for sexually abusing a minor, a 17-year-old whom he had molested more than once but came forward after the most recent incident. He was 74. He pleaded guilty and got a 10-year suspended sentence and five years probation.
- Associated Press: Former Alabama Commission Chair charged with abuse
- The Cullman Times: Graves pleads guilty to sexual abuse
- The Cullman Tribune: Former County Commission Chairman James Graves pleads guilty to sexual abuse
12 May 2017