Cropwell man faces pornography charges involving minor

PELL CITY, Al.
A former St. Clair County employee was indicted for producing pornography with a minor.

According to the indictment, Michael Chandley Smith, 55, of Cropwell, “did knowingly film, print, record, photograph or otherwise produce obscene matter that contains a visual reproduction of a person under the age of 17.”
Smith is charged with four counts of production of obscene matter with a minor.
St. Clair County Assistant District Attorney Lamar Williamson said production of obscene matter with a minor is a Class A felony, punishable by 10 years to life in prison for each count.
Williamson said Smith was arrested on one count of production of obscene matter with a minor on May 2 and was released on bond.
“The grand jury indictment added three additional counts of production of obscene matter with a minor for a total of four counts,” he said.
Williamson said Smith was arrested Nov. 2 after the grand jury indictment and was released on a $20,000 bond.
“Under the bond conditions, he is to have no contact with his family or persons under the age of 18,” Williamson said. “And he will reside with his natural mother.”
St. Clair County administrator Kellie Long said Smith worked in the St. Clair County Commission office as human resources officer until his resignation May 11, shortly after his initial arrest.
An attorney for Smith was not available for immediate comment Tuesday.

Twin teen sisters charged with “reckless” murder,

Atmore, Al.
A week after their three children died in a house fire after the toddlers were left home alone, twin sisters appeared Tuesday before a judge, each charged with three counts of murder.

Akeevia Lajoseia Abner                   Tekeevia Lajoseialan Abner

Akeevia Lajoseia Abner and Tekeevia Lajoseialan Abner, both 18, often buried their faces in their hands as they sat in the courtroom. Tekeevia kept her head down through much of the proceedings, her hair hiding her face.
District Judge Dave Jordan read from a complaint against the women that noted the mothers left the three children alone and showed “extreme indifference to human life and did pose grave risk of death.”
A press release from the district attorney’s office on Monday stated the women were charged with “reckless” murder,
The children were trapped in the house as it caught fire. A fire marshal’s investigation has determined that the blaze likely started because a stove was left unattended.
District Attorney Steve Billy sought a bond of $100,000 on each count of murder. Customary bond for a murder charge is $75,000, but Billy said the case warrants a higher bond.
“We ask that the court set a $100,000 bond on each count without consolidation,” Billy said. “We believe (each woman) to be a flight risk and a threat to others. She had no regard to the safety of her own children and we believe she would show now regard to the safety of others.” Bond was set at $300,000 for each sister.
The fire killed 3-year-old Aniyia Abner, 3-year-old Takia Abner and 22-month-old Michael Coleman.
Department of Human Resources officials this week could not confirm that they had been working with the family, but neighbors have reportedly said they saw the children left unattended in the past.
A funeral was held for the three children Thursday at New Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Atmore.
At the bond hearing, Tekeevia, the first to appear before the judge, answered District Judge Dave Jordan’s questions in a quiet voice.
Neither sister is represented by an attorney yet, and neither was required to speak nor enter a plea at the bond hearing.
Firefighters arrived at the scene of the Wednesday, Nov. 2, fire just before 8 p.m. The house was fully engulfed, and the children were pulled unconscious from the house shortly after they arrived.
All three were declared dead at Atmore Community Hospital.

Roundup targets those putting drugs on the streets

Etowah County, Al.
Operation Last Call, a drug roundup on Wednesday, was different than most roundups by the Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit, Commander Rob Savage said.

Most of the people arrested so far had warrants for trafficking, distribution and manufacturing of drugs, he said.

“The majority of these suspects were responsible for putting drugs on the streets,” Savage said. “They weren’t just using drugs.”

Agents with the drug unit, assisted by the Joint Special Operations Group, U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the Gadsden Police Department Special Projects Team, spread out Wednesday across Etowah County with 76 felony drug warrants for 51 people, Savage said.

By Thursday, 26 people had been arrested on 43 warrants. That’s a good percentage for this type of roundup, Savage said. He said agents with the drug unit and the sheriff’s office fugitive warrant division would continue to look for those not already in custody.

“When we’re able to complete an operation like this, we can make an impact on a much greater number of those involved in the drug trade,” he said. “Through these types of operations, we can take away the supply, and it has an effect on the entire community.”

About 70 percent of the warrants were for distribution of a controlled substance, primarily crack cocaine and methamphetamine, Sheriff Todd Entrekin said.

“These are the dealers that are selling the drugs, and making these kinds of arrests is key to keeping drugs off the streets of Etowah County,” Entrekin said. 

Several arrests also were made for trafficking in drugs, targeting the people who sell drugs to those who resell them on the streets.

“With these arrests, agents focused on the source of where these drugs are coming from, and who is selling them,” Entrekin said.

Several warrants also were for manufacturing meth, and the remaining ones were for possession. All the warrants were felonies.

Small amounts of cocaine, marijuana and illegal pills were seized during arrests on the warrants. A gun, loaded and in the possession of a convicted felon, also was seized, Savage said.

The undercover investigations that led to these warrants have been ongoing for several weeks.

Savage said such an operation is possible through the drug unit’s working relationship with the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force.

“Our goal through the Safe Streets Task Force was to reduce the availability of narcotics and the other associated crimes that come with that,” Savage said. “This type of operation is an example of what that partnership can accomplish. The resources we have through the federal government and local law enforcement agencies is a way that we can make a impact on a daily basis. The task force continues to focus its resources toward those willing to sell illegal drugs.”

Task Force agent Sgt. Chris Haney and Deputy Commander Woody Johnson said it’s easy to think in terms of the number of people arrested on drug charges, but officers see first hand the effects of the actions of those selling drugs.

“People think in terms of bad guys selling drugs,” Haney said. “But a lot of these people who are selling drugs are mamas and daddies.”

A difficult aspect of such roundups is dealing with the children in the homes where arrests are made, Haney said.

“The kids are victims, too,” he said. “Their daddy is going to jail and they’re screaming and crying. It’s hard to see this.”

Johnson said officers take into consideration the effects the arrests will have on children.

“The last thing we want is for kids to be scared,” he said. “But a group of officers with guns and wearing vests goes in, and all many of the kids know is we’re taking their daddy or mama to jail. Most of these kids already have a lot of turmoil in their lives.”

Those who know there are warrants for their arrest can contact the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office or the DEU to turn themselves in.

Arrests included:

GADSDEN

Dexter Avery, 31, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Forrest Blake, 21, first-degree unlawful possession of marijuana
Joshua Bradley, 24, two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Terry Bradley, 45, first-degree unlawful possession of marijuana
Codrerious Christopher, 23, two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Walter Dale Davis, 31, three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Kelvin Embry, 37, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Antoine Jones, 29, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Cynthia Mabry, 61, two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Marcus Malone, 32, trafficking
Dominique Meaders, 25, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance
Pierre Peoples, 25, two counts of first-degree possession of marijuana and unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Kendric Rigby, 20, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
David Stephenson, 39, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Joshua Sweatt, 32, unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance
Jamal Taylor, 28, unlawful possession of a controlled substance
Gary Thompson, 50, unlawful possession of a controlled substance
Marvin Turner, 31, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Jackie Wilson, 49, trafficking
Kynaston Stewart, 45, unlawful possession of a controlled substance

ATTALLA
Jimmy Rodriguez, 29, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Sergio Salazar, 35, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
Howard Williamson, 31, unlawful possession of a controlled substance
 Martin Zendejas Jr., 19, five counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance

SOUTHSIDE
Richard Vermillion, 31, unlawful possession of a controlled substance

RAINBOW CITY
Robert Young III, 30, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance

Denny Chimes to be lit blue for World Diabetes Day Monday

Denny Chimes on the University of Alabama Quad

TUSCALOOSA, Al.
Denny Chimes on the University of Alabama Quad will be lit blue Monday to raise awareness about diabetes.

The landmark will join hundreds of monuments and buildings across the world that will be lit blue for the World Diabetes Day monument challenge.

Mary Elizabeth Halliday, a UA senior majoring in nutrition, approached Milla Boschung, dean of the College of Human Environmental Sciences, with the idea to include Denny Chimes in the monument challenge. Halliday was told about the global event by a person close to her who lives with type 1 diabetes.

"By lighting up Denny Chimes in blue, the color of the World Diabetes Day logo circle -- which is the global symbol of diabetes -- we will be combining with the efforts of the rest of the world to capture the attention of those around us about the need for education and awareness to stop this growing diabetes epidemic," Halliday said.

Halliday said she hopes the color blue will bring attention to diabetes in a similar way to how pink is associated with breast cancer.

According to 2009 data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, over 12 percent of Alabamians have been diagnosed with diabetes and thousands of people are unaware that they have the disease. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the state.

"Unless we do something about it then these numbers will only increase as time goes on," Halliday said. "The more we promote diabetes awareness then the more people will become educated on its risks, causes, and prevention measures."

Students have also organized an event Sunday at the University of Alabama soccer fields in which attendees will form a circle of blue and take photos for World Diabetes Day.

Tallassee volunteer firefighter behind bars, accused of stealing breast cancer research money

TALLASSEE, Al.
Money that was supposed to go toward breast cancer research was stolen, and a Tallassee volunteer firefighter is in jail.
Phillip Lee Jones is accused of taking more than $2,000 to fund his drug habit. Jones was arrested and is being held on $15,000 bond on a felony 2nd degree theft charge.
The Tallassee Firefighters Associate raised the money by selling pink T-shirts last month. Police said Jones admitted he stole the money.
Jones has been removed from his position on the squad.

Emory Folmar, Montgomery mayor for two decades, dead at 81

Emory Folmar

MONTGOMERY, Al.
Emory Folmar, a successful shopping center developer who served as Montgomery mayor from 1977 to 1999, has died, the Montgomery Advertiser and WSFA are reporting tonight. He was 81.

Folmar ran for governor at the top of the evolving Alabama Republican ticket in 1982 but lost to George Wallace. Many credit Folmar's leadership with building a real two-party system in Alabama.

Folmar continued in public life after losing to the mayor's office to Democrat Bobby Bright, and ran Alabama's Alcoholic Beverage Control Board from 2003 until Gov. Robert Bentley took office in January.

He led the Alabama Republican Party from 1985 to 1989.

He was first elected to the Montgomery City Council in 1975, and launched to the mayor's office from the position of council president.

Folmar was a decorated veteran of the Korean War, receiving the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He served as a company commander. During his tenure as mayor he served in a largely ceremonial role as a special assistant to the secretary of the Army and ran the Alabama campaigns of President George H.W. Bush.

Folmar took a law-and-order stance as mayor, sometimes carrying a pistol, and ordered  police to so staunchly oversee music concerts that few played the city in some years. He battled with the ACLU and Democrats of all stripes, including long-time Alabama Democratic Party and Alabama Education Association official Joe Reed (a 24-year member of the Montgomery City Council).

But Folmar's police department also saw controversy, including the 1983 Todd Road incident in which white police detectives entered the home of a black family gathered to mourn a lost relative. The detectives were beaten, other police arrived, and there were claims of police abuse during questioning afterward.

Former Prattville Mayor Jim Byard Jr. told the Montgomery Advertiser tonight that Folmar’s death was “the passing of a senior statesman.” The newspaper quoted  Folmar's son-in-law as saying the city's long-time leader died at home about 7 p.m. Friday night.

He and his wife, Anita, are parents of three children.

Ten members of Congress plan immigration hearing in Birmingham Nov. 21

WASHINGTON -- Ten Democratic congressmen from around the country will be in Birmingham Nov. 21 to campaign against Alabama's immigration law.

 

U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill.

The group has scheduled a two-hour public hearing in the Birmingham City Council Chambers to hear from witnesses about the law's impact on families, businesses, agriculture, law enforcement and civil society.

The ten members, including U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, will then join a rally at the 16th Street Baptist Church, part of a campaign to have the law repealed.

The congressional interest was sparked by U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., a leading Washington critic of the law, part of which requires local police and sheriffs to detain those who cannot prove they are in the country legally. Gutierrez has said the law violates civil rights and is a threat to Alabama's economy.

In addition to Gutierrez and Sewell, other members scheduled to make the trip are Reps. Joe Baca of California, Judy Chu of California, Yvette Clarke of New York, Charlie Gonzalez of Texas, Al Green of Texas, Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Zoe Lofgren of California, Grace Napolitano of California and Silvestre Reyes of Texas.

On Nov. 21, the public hearing will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and the rally starts at 7 p.m.