Veteran Birmingham defense lawyer arrested on drug trafficking charges

CrimeGlennon Threatt speaks to the media after Larry Langford was sentenced in Tuscaloosa on March 5, 2010. (The Birmingham News/ Michelle Williams) bn FTP RemoteBy Joseph D. Bryant | jbryant@al.comA longtime Birmingham defense attorney was arrested Wednesday on drug trafficking charges stemming for allegedly bringing illegal substances into the Jefferson County Jail. Glennon F. Threatt, 69, was charged with promoting prison contraband second degree, unlawful distribution of controlled substances/possession with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance and drug trafficking.“On Wednesday, August 5, 2026, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office jail staff and Narcotics Detectives conducted an investigation into an allegation that someone was bringing illegal contraband into the Jefferson County Jail,” Sheriff’s spokesman Henry Irby wrote in a statement this afternoon. Officials said Threatt was taken into custody without incident. He remains in the Jefferson County Jail with a $112,000 bond.“At this time, I am working closely with Mr. Threatt’s family to assist them in the selection and coordination of a legal team that will vigorously defend him throughout this process,” said Juandalynn Givan, a Birmingham attorney and state legislator. Givan said news of Threatt’s arrest has generated a flurry of calls from among the legal community. Glennon Threatt at the Jefferson County Jail in Aug. 2026.JCSOThreatt, a well-known legal veteran, has been involved in several high-profile cases. He was a member of former Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford’s defense team in his 2009 federal corruption trial. Threatt had also represented Kerry Spencer, who was convicted in the 2004 murders of three Birmingham police officers, and Harvey Updyke in the poisoning of trees on Auburn’s Toomer’s Corner.More recently, Threatt had served on the legal defense team for accused mass murderer Damien McDaniel, who is charged in the deaths of 18 people and the wounding of 30 others in Birmingham in 2023 and 2024. Threatt had withdrawn from the case.Threatt had also represented Youit Jones, who is currently standing trial in the 2022 decapitation killing of Jefferson County husband and father Nathan Gemeinhart.“Attorney Glennon Threatt has been a premier voice in legal advocacy for many years,” Givan said. “He has represented defendants from all walks of life with professionalism, skill, and dedication.”Threatt, a graduate of Princeton University, also served as a federal public defender.“Beyond his impressive credentials, he is widely regarded by those who know him as an exceptional attorney and an even better person,” Givan said. “As with any legal matter, it is important that the facts be thoroughly examined. We are confident that the legal process will allow all of the relevant facts to come to light, and we remain hopeful that the truth will ultimately prevail.”Joseph Bryant is a local investigative reporter for AL.com, focusing on Birmingham area government and agencies. With over 25 years of journalism experience, Bryant is a seasoned political reporter. His work...