CARBON HILL, Alabama - An indictment announced today by state officials claims Carbon Hill Mayor James "PeeWee" Richardson engaged in sex with inmates at the Carbon Hill City Jail.

That is just one of several allegations lodged against the 61-year-old Richardson, who was arrested Thursday night and locked up in the Walker County Jail.

The arrest was the result of a joint operation by the Walker County District Attorney's Office and the Alabama Attorney General's Office. A grand jury indicted Richardson Thursday on four counts of first-degree sexual abuse, four counts of custodial sexual misconduct, two counts of harassment and one count of soliciting prostitution.

According to the indictment, Richardson subjected four different victims to sexual contact by forcible compulsion and engaged in sexual conduct with some of the victims while they were in the Carbon Hill City Jail.

Richardson also is charged with soliciting prostitution from one of those four victims. The harassment charges involve acts against two different female victims, authorities said.

The mayor was arrested by special agents with the Attorney General's Office. He was booked into the Walker County Jail at 9:19 p.m. and remained there today. His bond is set at $250,000.

No other details about the reported crimes have been released. If convicted, Richardson faces a maximum penalty of one to 10 years for each count of the first-degree sexual abuse and each count of custodial sexual misconduct, both Class C felonies.

Soliciting prostitution is a Class A misdemeanor, with a possible sentence of up to one year in prison. Harassment is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to three months in prison. If convicted of a felony, Richardson will be removed from office.