Estes arrested on domestic violence charge - Class C misdemeanor involves no physical contact

By Luke Brantley

Staff writer

WINFIELD — Alabama District 17 State Representative Tracy Estes was arrested on Friday, Sept. 20, on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge. 
Estes was charged with domestic violence in the third degree, a class C misdemeanor. 
According to Alabama state law, “A person commits the crime of domestic violence in the third degree if he/she commits the crime of harassing communications, and the victim is a current or former spouse, parent, child, any person with whom the defendant has a child in common, a present or former household member, or a person who has or had a dating relationship with the defendant.”
The charges emerged from an incident that allegedly took place a month prior on Aug. 20, according to a criminal complaint filed on Sept. 20. 
According to court records obtained by the Journal Record, it is alleged that Estes began “arguing and cussing” at his wife, Christina, who went into an upstairs bedroom. 
She alleged that Estes began “pounding on the door” and also “verbally threatened” her with physical violence. She said this went on for two hours, and also alleged this wasn’t the only time this type of behavior occurred during their marriage. 
According to the complaint, which was filed by Christina, he also turned on the heat in the room to try and force her out.
Within those court records, no allegations were made of physical violence being carried out, only verbal threats. 
Estes was arrested at his home on Friday afternoon at 5:33 p.m. booked into the Marion County jail. He is currently out on bond. 
According to the incident report filed by the Winfield City Police officers, who responded to the call in the early morning hours of Aug. 20, Christina’s testimony to officers aligned with her claims on the criminal complaint and the protection order. She also presented them with an audio recording that officers said matched what she would later allege in the court records.  
Estes testified to police he was concerned about his wife’s medical condition, and when she barricaded herself in the room and wouldn’t answer, he grew frantic and began lightly tapping on the door.
Officers took statements from both of them, and said in the report that neither party wished to pursue charges at that time.
The court records show Christina ended up filing the criminal complaint and petition for protection from abuse exactly a month later on Sept. 20. 
The Journal Record reached out to the Winfield Police Department for comment. They did not respond before this issue’s press deadline. New information will be featured in upcoming issues as it becomes available.
Estes could not be immediately reached for comment. 
Estes was elected to the Alabama State House of Representatives in 2018 after narrowly defeating Guin Mayor Phil Segraves in the primary runoff. 
He was re-elected in 2022 and is currently serving his second term. 
Before running for office, Estes worked for the Journal Record for 27 years, and worked as the news editor from 1999 until he was elected in 2018. He had previously worked for the Montgomery Advertiser and the Tuscaloosa News. 
He also served on the Winfield Board of Education for 15 years and served on the board of directors for the Alabama Association of School Boards, as well as working on or with numerous other municipal and community organizations. He has also served as a deacon at Winfield First Baptist Church. 

*When a defendant is charged with a crime, the charge is merely an accusation until or unless proven guilty in a court of law.