28 year old Derek E. Bates, of Leighton, has been arrested and is accused of attempting to intimidate a witness. Colbert County Sheriff Ronnie May said that he has been charged with intimidating a witness. He added that Bates had a pending drugcase in circuit court and he is accused of trying to intimidate a person who was scheduled to testify against him during the course of the trial. Bates is still being held in the Colbert County Jail.