MONTGOMERY, Ala. — An Alabama state representative had a protective order filed against him Friday after allegedly making violent threats against another person.
The petition for protection from abuse attached to the order in the filing in the Circuit Court of Marion County said that Rep. Tracy Estes, R-Winfield, verbally threatened the recipient of the order for two hours. The person said she was afraid she would be seriously injured and that Estes threatened to hurt her.
According to the Associated Press, Estes, 57, was jailed Friday night on a misdemeanor charge of third-degree domestic violence, news outlets reported. Marion County jail records online did not show him still in custody Saturday afternoon.
The AP reports that the lawmaker's wife, Christina Estes, is the person who filed the order.
"This type of behavior has occurred numerous times since they have been married,” the court record said.
Christina Estes obtained a judge's protective order prohibiting her husband from coming within 300 feet (90 meters) of her or their home. Tracy Estes was also ordered to surrender any firearms he owns.
A message was left at a number listed in Estes’ campaign filings. No attorneys for either party were listed in online records early Saturday afternoon.
House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said in a statement Saturday via spokesperson that he is aware of the situation and he has confidence that “our justice system will determine an appropriate course of action.”
“Alabamians deserve the very best from their elected officials, and it’s my expectation that House members are beyond reproach in both their professional and personal lives,” he wrote.
Estes was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. He previously served on the Marion County Board of Education. according to Ballotpedia.
Portions of this article originally appeared in the Alabama Reflector, an independent, nonprofit news outlet. It appears on FOX54.com under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.