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SAMSON — A south Alabama mayor will remain in office as he awaits trial in Florida on charges of beating and stabbing a man he allegedly found with his wife at a Panhandle motel, an aide said Monday.

Clay King, in his third term as mayor of Samson, was accused of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon in an attack on Stephen Hunter Oates, 44, of Chancellor, Ala., police Lt. Bill Chapman of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., said.

Free on bond, King, 43, did not return a message left at his city office, but a City Hall worker said King remained mayor as allowed by Alabama law.

"The mayor is still the mayor," said Hazel McGowan, the city clerk.

An attorney for King also did not return messages seeking comment.

Oates was initially listed in critical condition, and he remained hospitalized following surgery. His current condition was not immediately available.

Chapman said King confronted Oates and his wife, Paula King, outside a DeFuniak Springs motel early Friday. Oates was struck outside the building, then ran inside his room and was stabbed, Chapman said.

Oates and Mrs. King were outside because she had found tires on her car deflated and called a son to pump them up for her, Chapman said. Another son also came along, and both boys were working on the vehicle Clay King appeared, he said.

"(Oates) said King came out of nowhere and attacked him," said Chapman. "It started right outside their room, and they took it inside."

Roger Baine, mayor pro tem in the Geneva County town of 2,200, called King an "excellent" mayor.

"Clay's a good guy. He's a family guy. He's never been violent that I'm aware of," said Baine. "I just can't see it being as it's been portrayed."

Under Alabama law, elected officials charged with crimes are automatically removed from office if convicted of a felony.

"I plan to support (King) 100 percent in this," said Baine.

Samson is about 30 miles north of DeFuniak Springs. Florida authorities went to Alabama to gather evidence after the stabbing, and King surrendered in DeFuniak Springs about 12 hours after the attack, Chapman said.