After 6 years serving as a prosecutor for the City of Lafayette, Marcus Allen was fired Friday after being charged for simple battery. It all supposedly stems from an alleged altercation at the courthouse last October with a bail bondsman, but Allen has other suspicions.

"I think it's definitely political, I wasn't even arrested and I got fired for a mere allegation, I don't know what else to call it," Allen said.

Allen was served with papers, charging him with the crime just last week, ten months after the alleged incident. He called Lafayette City Attorney Pat Ottinger to discuss the matter Friday morning, when he says Ottinger told him he either had to resign or be fired.

"I'm innocent, I said 'Pat I have a right to due process, I'm an attorney just like you are,' I have not been convicted of a crime, I have not been arrested of a crime, no one has even asked for my side of the story," Allen said.

When asked for his side of the story, Allen says a bondsman with A-Able Bonds tried to have an individual arrested who missed a court appearance. Allen tells KATC that man had conflicting court appearances that day, so he came to his defense. When asked if he touched the bondsman in question, Allen replied:

"I don't think I touched him, I said 'hold on that's not right what you're doing.'"

A representative with A-Able Bonds and the bondsman himself declined comment on the matter Friday, as did Ottinger.

An arraignment date for the simple battery charge has been set for September 21st.

Jim Hummel

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