Found cell phone leeds to three arrests in Abbeville

 Abbeville, Al.

Duran Chavez Slato

A cell phone found in an Abbeville park has led to the arrest of three men. Arrested  were  Duran Chavez Slaton, 25, of Abbeville, on a felony electronic solicitation charge and two felony counts of possession of child pornography,  George Lewis Gamble, 51, and Antonio L. Wesley, 27, both of Eufaula, charged each with felony electronic solicitation of a child. Gamble was also charged with traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, which is a class A felony crime, with a possible sentence of 10 years to life in prison.

According to court records, this is what authorities say happened: Slaton sent explicit naked pictures of himself and attempted to entice the girl for sex using a cell phone. The teenager told police she sent pictures of herself to Slaton’s cell phone. The teenager also said she had at least three conversations with Slaton, during which he’d tried to talk her into getting a ride to Abbeville so they could “hook up.”

George Lewis Gamble

Antonio L. Wesley

Henry County Sheriff William Maddox said investigators with the Henry County Sheriff’s and Abbeville Police Task Force started the investigation late last month after an Abbeville park attendant found Slaton’s cell phone in a park with pornographic images on it of a teenage girl.  Task Force Investigator Steve Sanders said they arrested Duran Chavez Slaton of Abbeville first  and after further investigating  two more people were arrested. “These individuals were friends with a 15-year-old juvenile on Facebook,” Sanders said. “Mr. Gamble actually traveled to Abbeville on December third for what he believed to be the purpose of sex.” When he arrived he met the Henry County Sheriff’s officers and Abbeville Police Task Force. Sanders said none of the suspects knew each other, but all had “friended” the teenage girl on Facebook.

Slaton is being held at the Henry County Jail on $90,000 bail.Gamble was released after he posted $80,000 bail, and Wesley remains held without bail on a probation violation out of Georgia.

Henry County Sheriff William Maddox encouraged area parents to know their child’s friends on Facebook, and and know who they talk to while using the website. “These young people don’t realize the dangers of meeting complete strangers on the computer. Anything can happen,” Maddox said. “This is probably the first time we’ve ever got into a case involving computers and electronic solicitation during my time as sheriff. Normally we turn this kind of case over to the ABI, but this one just kind of fell into place. I just love it when a plan comes together.”

Search still on for missing Boligee man

 Demopolis, Al.
The search continues for a Boligee man who was last seen eight days ago in Demopolis.
Corey Murphy was last seen at the Alabama State Barbecue Competition in Demopolis Friday night. The truck in which he was last seen driving was found disabled Tuesday near the Greene and Sumter county lines.
The Demopolis Police Department has aided officers from around the region in the search and a dog team from Huntsville arrived earlier this week.
HEMSI Search Dog Unit, a volunteer K9 search team, combed the area Thursday.
“They came without hesitation, no regard for the rain and cold and did a very tedious job of searching for (Corey),” said Melanie Murphy York, Corey’s mother. “They did not give up until they knew without a doubt that they had done all they had been trained to do and the dogs had done all they were trained to do.”
HEMSI Chief Chip Laymon said his team spent the day combing the home and the area the truck was found in search of scents and clues.
“There was some concern that, given the area where the truck was found, that he might have fallen off the bluff and into the river,” Laymon said of a search that didn’t produce any positive trails or results. “The dogs didn’t find a trail indicating he went in that direction, and we also searched the water with the dogs and the boats have sonar, and we didn’t come up with anything.”
Laymon said trails found leading up to and from a home led dogs on a winding nearly 3-mile-long trail from the truck, to the home, from the home, through the woods, back to the road and through a field. While investigators were not able to come up with the whereabouts of their target, they did walk away with a positive result.
“We felt comfortable that he was alive, at least as of (Thursday), but was on the lam,” Laymon said.
Jason Pendergrass, who manages the Demopolis Airport, also flew over the area earlier this week.
York said she printed 200 flyers to hand out and has asked several businesses to post them in their windows hoping that will lead someone to Corey’s whereabouts.
“Somebody out there – in my mother’s intuition, I feel like – somebody out there knows something, somebody, or somewhere,” she said, “but we don’t know who that somebody is.”
York, who said her son once darted off to Pennsylvania to meet a girl, described her son as a free spirit and fears that he may feel like he can’t come home right now given the scope of the search.
“(I want him to know) that I love him and that no matter how bad things may seem, that it’s not as bad as all that,” she said. “I think Corey thinks he’s in some serious trouble, and he’s not and he doesn’t know that.”
HEMSI is largely funded by donations. Donations can be mailed to Chief Chip Laymon, HEMSI Search Dog Unit, Post Office Box 7108, Huntsville, AL 35807

Judge to prosecution: No separate gambling trials

MONTGOMERY, Al.
A federal judge on Friday rejected a request by federal prosecutors to have separate retrials for the seven remaining defendants in Alabama's gambling corruption case, which means all seven will be tried together next month.

Milton McGregor

Prosecutors had asked U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson to split the seven into three groups for retrial as a way to make the trials simpler, shorter and less confusing for jurors.
In an order Friday, Thompson said prosecutors argued against separate trials when the case first went to court in June, but now they are seeking them in an apparent bid to improve their chances. "The real motive behind the severance request appears to be that the government believes convictions are more likely in three separate trials," Thompson said.
The judge said there was no evidence that jurors were confused in the first trial of nine defendants. That trial ended in August with jurors returning not guilty verdicts on 91 counts and not reaching a decision on 33 other counts. Two defendants, Democratic Sen. Quinton Ross of Montgomery and gambling lobbyist Bob Geddie, were totally acquitted.
The remaining seven, including VictoryLand casino owner Milton McGregor and independent state Sen. Harri Anne Smith of Slocomb, will be retried together Jan. 30 in Montgomery.
McGregor's attorney, Joe Espy, said the judge's ruling follows the arguments that defense attorneys made against the prosecutors' request. "We believe their motive was not judicial economy or to give a quicker trial. It was to give them an advantage," he said.
Smith's attorney, William White, said the ruling was no surprise because the judge had indicated in court that he didn't like the prosecutors' request.
Federal prosecutors have a policy against commenting on the case.
The remaining defendants are accused of bribery, including swapping campaign contributions for votes on pro-gambling legislation.
Besides McGregor and Smith, the defendants are former Sens. Jim Preuitt of Talladega and Larry Means of Attalla, gambling lobbyist Tom Coker, casino spokesman Jay Walker and former legislative employee Ray Crosby.

Suspect in custody following morning robbery at CB&T Bank in Opelika

OPELIKA, Al.
Opelika police have arrested a man in connection with a bank robbery at the CB&T Bank on Gateway Drive around 10 a.m.
Police say 23-year-old Augusta Dean Webster, of Montgomery, walked into the bank wearing a mask and gloves and demanded money from one of the tellers. The suspect left the bank with the money, and officers chased him down in a wooded area. A mask, gloves and an undisclosed amount of money was found on Webster when he was arrested.
Webster has been charged with first-degree robbery and is being held in the Lee County Detention Facility.
Anyone with additional information about the robbery can call the Opelika Police Department Investigative Services Division at 334-705-5220 or the Secret Witness Hotline at 334-745-8665.

Selma Street and Foster Street traffic light to be phased out of service

The City of Dothan is advising motorists that, as the result of a recently completed engineering traffic study, the traffic signal located at the intersection of Selma Street and Foster Street is scheduled for removal.
To assist motorists and alert them of the planned removal of this device, the traffic signal will be set to “flash” operation beginning on Monday, December 12, 2011. After a period of ninety (90) days, the traffic signal will be removed. Motorists are asked to drive with extreme caution when traveling in and around this area.

Dothan Police Dept. is seeking the help of the community in locating a wanted fugitive whom authorities have reason to believe is in the Dothan area.

Dothan, Al.
Adrian Terrell Jones is WANTED as a Fugitive from Justice. Jones is described as a 26 year old black male, 5’08 tall and weighing 130 pounds. Jones recently sustained a gunshot wound in his back and as a result walks with a noticeable limp.
 

Police say Adrian Terrell Jones is wanted on an outstanding fugitive from justice warrant signed in connection with the 2010 investigation of a local drug ring. Jones additionally is wanted for failure to appear in court in a felony narcotic case with the Houston County Sheriffs Office. Police have information that Jones is believed to be residing in Atlanta, Georgia but often returns to the Dothan area. The Dothan Police Department and Houston County Sheriffs Office are working together to bring Jones to justice and are asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspect to call the Dothan Police Department or CrimeStoppers 334-793-7000.

Prichard police charge 2 teenagers with murder in barber's death

 

Broderick Brown

 

Andrew Amison                                                                                                                           

PRICHARD, Al,
Prichard police arrested two men and charged them with murder and first-degree robbery in the shooting death of barber Sam Richardson, officials said tonight.
Broderick Sylvester Brown, 19, and Andrew Amison, 17, were separately escorted from Prichard police headquarters this evening, and taken to Mobile County Metro Jail. Police said they were looking for a third man in connection with that case.
Richardson, 60, was found dead in his barbershop at Garrison and Main streets on Nov. 22. Police had said that Richardson was beaten to death, but said today that he had been shot.

 

In a separate investigation, Prichard authorities said they had made a second arrest in the case involving Janie Pogue, 82, who was struck in her yard by a stolen car on Oct. 8. Police announced that they were looking for a third person in that case.
Pogue died of her injuries Oct. 12.
Authorities also announced that they were looking for Hiram La-Keith Stores, 30, considered a suspect in the shooting death of Keonte McCants. McCants, 17, was shot Nov. 28, shortly before 5 p.m. while sitting in a car on Circle Drive. He died the next day.
Chief Jimmie Gardner said that tips from the public led to arrests in the Richardson case.
"Had it not been for the cooperation of the citizens in the community for information, we would not be where we are today," Gardner said.
Richardson’s family members expressed relief.
"I’m so glad that this has begun to come to an end," said Theresa Whigham, Richardson’s sister. "I was so happy. It’s just a relief to know that everything came out the way that it did, and that justice is going to be served."
The victim’s daughter echoed that sentiment.
"I’ve very thankful that they have been caught," said Samantha Richardson. "I do feel like justice is going to continue to be served.
"Today was like a bittersweet moment today. I was thankful that they were caught. But even then, it doesn’t bring my father back. So I’m dealing with those emotions, as well."
Sgt. Walter Knight said Brown’s and Amison’s names "were mentioned several times" during the investigation.
"One came forward and basically told us from beginning to end what happened," Knight said. "The second one — his mother actually brought him in — he didn’t want to speak to us at this time. He may want to speak to us later on."
Police would not identify which suspect talked to authorities.
Brown and Amison were escorted separately to waiting police cruisers for the trip to Metro Jail.
"I’m innocent, I’m innocent," Brown said several times.
"I’m innocent, I’m innocent," Amison said to reporters. "I ain’t killed nobody. My grandmama taught me better than that."
Police were questioning suspects and witnesses Tuesday morning, just as more than 100 people protesting the deaths of Richardson and McCants gathered in front of the barbershop for a rally and a march to the Prichard Municipal Complex.

Devonta Harris

Also on Thursday night, Prichard police arrested Devonta Harris, 17, and charged him with receiving stolen property in the Pogue case.
Detective Dwight King Sr. said that other charges were pending against Harris, who was believed to have been driving a stolen vehicle involved in the incident.
"Eyewitnesses identified him as being one of three individuals who fled the scene," King said.
Harris was picked up walking from the Family Dollar store at St; Stephens Road and Bessemer Avenue this evening, King said.
Prichard police arrested Roderick Henriques Williams, 17, in October and charged him first-degree assault and receiving stolen property. Williams was out on bail for first-degree robbery when the incident occurred.

4 people wanted in Andalusia Walmart TV thefts

Andalusia, Al.
Four people are now being sought in a Super Saturday theft of two televisions and three cases of beer from the Andalusia Walmart.
Sgt. Jason Curry of the Andalusia Police Department said the four white males took advantage of the after- Thanksgiving shopping rush to load two buggies and make their way out one of the building’s fire escapes with the merchandise.
“The video clearly shows four suspects,” he said. “One was the driver of a white pickup truck. The other three were shown walking around. It shows one left and staged in the parking lot.
“The other two inside loaded buggies, headed out and set off the fire alarm,” he said. “The video shows one guy run and toss a TV in the back of a black Chevy full-sized pick up truck, then he runs back to help the other grab the other TV and tosses it in, too.”
Unfortunately for the thieves, the video captures the demise of a case of beer as one man looses his grip and cans spill to the ground.
Curry said the suspects, all of whom are white males are described as follows:
• One with blondish-red hair, heavy-set weighing approximately 230 pounds.
• One in a green and white striped shirt with blondish-red hair, weighing approximately 160-190 pounds;
• One with dark hair weighing 150-180 pounds.
• No clear picture was available of the fourth suspect, who served as a lookout for the heist.
Anyone with any information on the crime is asked to contact the APD at 334-222-1155.

UPDATE: Gadsden man arrested for the Oxford Papa John’s robbery, murder

 Oxford, Al.
A Gadsden man wanted for the September robbery and murder of a Papa John’s employee in Oxford was arrested Wednesday morning in Gadsden.

Brandon Hawkins

Brandon Hawkins, 21, was arrested about 8 a.m. at a house at 220 Davis Drive in East Gadsden, according to Gadsden Police Capt. Regina May.
Hawkins was identified as the suspect in the shooting death of the employee during a robbery after a three-month investigation, Oxford Police Chief Bill Partridge said.
“His name just kept coming up, over and over again,” Partridge said. “We were finally able to tie all the pieces together.”
Hawkins allegedly shot assistant manager Barbara Exum, 56, and struck another employee with the gun used during the robbery and stole money from the store, Partridge said. Exum died from the gunshot wound and the other employee had minor injuries.
The two were the only ones in the store when the shooting occurred, but a third employee was going in as Hawkins allegedly was going out, Partridge said.
About a month after the robbery and shooting, Gov. Robert Bentley’s office offered a reward for information in the case.
Partridge said it is not clear yet who, if anyone, will be eligible for the reward.
Warrants for capital murder, first-degree robbery and second-degree robbery were obtained Tuesday for Hawkins.
  Police thought he might have fled the state and could be in South Carolina, but found him in his hometown after Oxford Police received an anonymous tip about his whereabouts.
“We got an anonymous tip that he was at his girlfriend’s residence,” Partridge said.
May said two patrol units went to the Davis Drive home about 8 a.m.
“They were following up on the tip and knocked on the door,” she said.
Hawkins was there and was taken into custody without incident, May said.
 He is being held without bond for the capital murder charge. Officers booked Hawkins into the Oxford City Jail following his arrest. He will likely be moved to the Calhoun County Jail due to the capital murder charge.
“We certainly appreciate that Gadsden was able to take him into custody,” Partridge said.

Deadly Union Springs fire caused by child playing with lighter

MONTGOMERY, Al.
The state fire marshal's office says a fire that killed three children in a Union Springs apartment was started by a child playing with a lighter.
Investigators say the fire started on the sofa in the apartment's den.
Authorities say 4-year-old twins JaDarius and JaLaya Smith and 13-month-old Ta'Nyah Shell all died of smoke inhalation in the fire Nov. 28.
The fire marshal's office says mother of the twins and tenant, Shameka Smith, was looking after the children, but left them alone briefly to visit a neighbor. She found the fire when she returned.

Former Mobile DJ pleads guilty in bathroom eavesdropping case

BAY MINETTE, Al.
Former WABB radio personality and Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce official Justin Wade "Jay" Hasting pleaded guilty this week to two misdemeanor counts for secretly taping women in a restroom.

Justin Wade "Jay" Hasting

A judge set sentencing for Feb. 16 for Hasting, 53, who could get up to a year in prison and fines of up to $6,000 for each charge.
Police said he used video-recording equipment to tape women in a bathroom at the chamber’s Scenic Overlook facility in Daphne in the summer of 2010.
Court records online show Hasting of Daphne pleaded guilty to installing an eavesdropping device and criminal eavesdropping.
According to police, Hasting secretly recorded two women visiting the Scenic Overlook Welcome Center after telling them that the public restroom was out of order and directing them to an employee restroom. Police said Hasting stated that he was trying to catch employees stealing when he set up the camera in the restroom, which was also used for storage.
The incident happened on a Sunday morning prior to the center’s normal opening time of noon, according to police reports. Hasting owns a local cleaning service that was contracted to clean the chamber-run center, according to police testimony at a preliminary hearing in July.
Hasting was suspended from his chamber tourism director duties following his arrest.

First Annual Poker Run to remember DAC Jeremy Clark

and

the Tomahawk family

invite you to participate in a

"Ride to Remember"

First Annual Poker Run to remember DAC Jeremy Clark

Jeremy served active duty in the military for 11 years in Germany, Kosovo, Iraq, and Korea. 

He was  an Instructor Pilot for the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, and a Major in the Army Reserve.

He passed away, Tuesday, December 14, 2010 in Ft. Rucker, AL after a training accident. 

He left behind two little girls and this ride is to help Jeremey's wife to provide a good Christmas for the girls.

Sat. Dec. 10th 2011

Signup @ 10:30am at (Cobra Hall) Hanchey AAF

Fort Rucker

Departure @ 11:00am

For more info call Russ Kruse @ 334-797-0404

wiregrassmac@gmail.com

Southern Union student charged with reckless murder of athlete in early morning accident

CHAMBERS COUNTY, Al.
A one-car accident on State Road 77 in Chambers County early this morning killed a Southern Union Community College softball player and injured two other athletes from the school.
Seven students were in the car.
Sgt. Steve Jarrett, with the Alabama Department of Public Safety, said the driver of the vehicle, also a student, has been charged with reckless murder in the death.
Cpl. Sherman Day, with the Alabama State Troopers post in Opelika, said the accident happened 10 miles north of Lafayette. Day said alcohol was a factor in the accident.
A representative with the Chambers County Jail confirmed the driver of the vehicle, 19-year-old Sandy Jose Tiburcio, was arrested following the accident. Jarrett said he was taken to the Chambers County Jail on a murder charge and posted $10,000 bond earlier this afternoon. 
Madison Minor Lewis, 19, was killed in the accident that happened around 3:20 a.m.  She was a freshman third baseman on the Lady Bison softball team from Decatur, Ga.
A family member of one of the people injured confirmed all seven of the passengers were Southern Union Community College athletes.
According to the Alabama Department of Public Safety, the 1995 Chevy Trailblazer left the roadway, overturned and struck a tree.
One student was taken to the East Alabama Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, another was airlifted to Columbus Medical Center with serious injuries.

Auburn University to continue development of a vaccine that may provide an alternative to surgical spay and neuter for cats and dogs

Auburn, Al.
The Scott-Ritchey Research Center at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and Vaxin Inc., have received a $1 million grant from the Found Animals Foundation to continue development of a vaccine that may provide an alternative to surgical spay and neuter for cats and dogs, according to a press release from the university.

According to the Found Animals Foundation, six to eight million cats and dogs enter U.S. shelters each year, and about half are euthanized.

While animal sterilization has long been recognized as an integral solution to the problem of overpopulation, standard surgical techniques of spaying and neutering have obstacles such as high costs and the need for trained veterinary surgeons and appropriate facilities. 

According to the press release, a single-dose of the sterilant, administered in the field at a reasonable cost, "would be an ideal solution, and would save lives and end suffering for millions of companion animals throughout the world."

Two men charged with burglary after found in Stone Middle School

                                                                              

Jonathan Pacheco (Madison County Jail)                                                                                Dirrett Nixon (Madison County Jail)

HUNTSVILLE, Al.
Two men were each charged with third-degree burglary after they were found inside the former Stone Middle School, police from the north precinct said.
Dirrett Nixon, 21, and Jonathan Pacheco, 25, were arrested without incident after police set up a perimeter around the school, which has been closed for several years, at 2620 Clinton Ave., police said.
School security officers saw the two men inside the building on surveillance cameras and called police at about 1 a.m., the report said.