Ex-Auburn attorney expected to plead guilty to fraud

 Montgomery, Al.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in Montgomery expects a disbarred Auburn attorney to plead guilty to federal wire fraud charges accusing him of siphoning off more than $2 million from mortgage loan closings overseen by his firm.

U.S. Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Clark Morris said James Boyd Douglas Jr. plans to plead guilty to wire fraud ahead of information about the case being sent to a federal grand jury. A consent plea hearing is scheduled for March 22, according to an order filed Thursday.

Douglas’ attorney did not return calls for comment Thursday.

In filings Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama alleged Douglas took more than $2 million in proceeds from mortgage loan closings and refinances overseen by his law firm while representing to clients and lenders the loans had been repaid. The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges the scheme went on from January 2005 until late September 2011.

The felony charge carries a potential sentence of as much as 20 years in prison and fines.

Douglas, a partner at McNeal & Douglas in Auburn, successfully petitioned the Alabama State Bar for disbarment in October 2011. Douglas’ partner at the time denied knowledge of the alleged fraud, but said the disbarment was related to accounting and trust issues.

Auburn High sophomore dies in shooting

AUBURN, Al.

An Auburn High School sophomore is dead after what Auburn police are saying appears to have been an accidental shooting.

Jamon Baker   Credit: Courtesy Facebook

Jamon Baker, 15, was killed by a single gunshot wound to the chest Sunday evening, according to Auburn police.

A police report stated that shots were fired in the 800 block of Lunsford Drive in Auburn at approximately 7 p.m. Sunday. Police responding to the scene were flagged down by the occupants of a vehicle on North Donahue Drive attempting to take Baker to the hospital.

An ambulance transported Baker to the East Alabama Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 7:53 p.m.

Demario A. Pitts, 20, of Opelika surrendered to Auburn police at approximately 2 a.m. Monday morning — but has not been charged in the shooting — Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson said.

Dawson said that Pitts and Baker were cousins.

Pitts, who has not been charged in connection with the shooting, was questioned by police and arrested on an unrelated charge, said Dawson, who added that evidence in the incident will be presented to a Lee County grand jury that will determine if any charges will be filed.

Pitts is currently being held at the Lee County Detention Facility on a violation of court order charge for which he has been given a $500 bail. Pitts also faces a second unrelated misdemeanor charge for there is no bail. Pitts is slated to appear at 8 a.m. on April 6 in Lee County District Court, Lee County Sheriff’s Office Chief Investigator Capt. Van. Jackson said.

The shooting allegedly took place inside Baker’s home, which two other juveniles witnessed, Dawson said. Auburn police have recovered the handgun believed to have been used in the shooting, Dawson said.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Auburn police at 334-501-3140 or anonymously by voice or text on the tip line at 334-246-1391.

Man serving time already charged with one count of Escape 2nd

Dothan, Al.
Curtis Thomas Bacon, white male, 23 years of age, of E. Newton Street was arrested and charged with one count of Escape 2^nd with a $15,000.00 bond.

Curtis Thomas Bacon

 The Dothan Police Department has arrested Curtis Thomas Bacon of Dothan for one count of Escape Second Degree. Bacon was serving time for fines in the Dothan City Jail. He was being treated at a local hospital when he escaped from custody. A Dothan City Jail uniform was found in the stairwell of the hospital. A short time later Dothan Police Officer found Bacon at a downtown motel and he was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit.

Henry County man charged with one count of Robbery First Degree

Dothan, Al.
Eric Denon Kelly, black male, 35 years of age, Henry County, AL, was arrested and charged with , with a $100,000.00 bond.

Eric Denon Kelly

The Dothan Police Department Investigative Division has arrested Eric Denon Kelly of Henry County, for one count of Robbery First Degree. Kelly was driving a white vehicle and pulled in front of the victim while he was walking in the area of Post Oak Drive and White Oak Circle.  Kelly exited the vehicle with a weapon and struck the victim on the left side of his face and demanded money. The victim positively identified Eric Kelly as the perpetrator.

Pennsylvania man gets almost 6 years for drug-fueled holdup of Mobile bank

MOBILE, Al.
A Pennsylvania man who stole his uncle’s pickup truck rather than go to jail and then robbed a bank here last year will go to prison for almost 6 years, a federal judge ruled last week.

James Jacobs

Chief U.S. District Judge William Steele sentenced James Raymond Jacobs to 5 years and 10 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Defense attorney Buzz Jordan said his client had a stable job at The Home Depot, but then suffered an injury that led to addiction to painkillers. He said Jacobs broke into his girlfriend’s house, stole her jewelry and then pawned it.
"Until he received an injury and prescription medication, he was a model citizen," he said.
Jacobs, 30, went into an RBC Bank in Mobile on Aug. 9 after spending his last $2 at Burger King. After talking about opening an account, he left and then returned about 20 minutes later with a stickup note indicating that he was armed and wanted money, court records show.
The bank teller pulled out a stack of cash totaling $2,298.
Jacobs drove away in a 2007 Dodge Ram pickup truck, but wrecked near the intersection of Montlimar Drive and Zack Logan Avenue, according to court records.
Jacobs said he is drug-free now.
"Until 28, I had no criminal history," he told Steele. "These last 2 years (the drugs) led me to places I never thought I’d go."