Phenix City lawyer faces theft charges

Opelika, Al.
Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones on Thursday announced the arrest of 39-year-old lawyer Dana Posey Gentry of Phenix City.

Dana Posey Gentry

Gentry, who surrendered to deputies at approximately 10:30 a.m. at the Lee County Detention Facility, has been charged with four counts of first-degree theft of property by deception and one count of second-degree theft of property by deception.

Gentry’s arrest Thursday, along with two arrests last year, stem from business practices associated with his law firm in the 5400 block of Summerville Road in Phenix City, said Lee County Sheriff’s Office Chief Investigator Capt. Van Jackson. Because the investigation is ongoing, Jackson would not elaborate on specifics about the cases. However, he said Gentry’s legal practice is no longer in operation.

On Sept. 21, 2011, Gentry was arrested on a pair of grand jury indictment warrants charging him with unlawful possession of a forged instrument and criminal simulation. Gentry was arrested again on Nov. 3 and charged with first-degree theft of property by deception.

After posting $23,000 bail, Gentry was released Thursday.

Anyone with information about these cases is asked to contact Lee County Crime Stoppers at 1-888-522-7847.

Spain Park High School (Hoover, Al.) junior Kevin Yang chosen for Jeopardy! tournament

HOOVER, Al.
A 16-year-old junior at Spain Park High School in Hoover has been selected to participate in the Jeopardy! Teen Tournament next week in Culver City, Calif.

Kevin Yang

Jeopardy! officials announced today that Kevin Yang is one of 15 teens chosen from among 20,000 contestants to participate in the tournament at Sony Pictures Studios.
Yang's family plans to leave for California on Sunday. The tournament is scheduled to air on TV April 30-May 11.
"It's awesome," Yang said of being selected. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Yang said he auditioned for the show this past July in Kentucky. About 30 other contestants were chosen for that audition as well.
Yang said he began watching Jeopardy! in elementary school and has been a fan ever since.
"I didn't always understand it, and I was wondering how they knew all of this, but I've gotten better at it," he said.
Yang said he has been prepping for the show by going over old Jeopardy! archive questions. Being a member of the Spain Park Scholars Bowl team has helped him prepare as well, he said.
The grand prize for the tournament is $75,000 in cash. Yang said he's not certain he will be able to give away the results of the show before it airs.

Mobile Mardi Gras parades cancelled for Saturday, moved to Sunday

MOBILE, Al.
The following Mardi Gras parades are cancelled for Saturday, Feb. 18, according to a news release from the Mobile Police Department. They have been rescheduled to run Sunday, Feb. 19, at the following times:

• 10:30 am. -- Floral, Knights of Mobile, and Order of Angels
• 2:00 p.m. -- King Elexis
• 2:30 p.m. -- Joe Cain
• 5:00 p.m. -- Le-Krewe De Bienville
• 7:00 p.m. -- Mystic of Time

Possible severe weather was expected to put a crimp on the parades scheduled for Saturday. The National Weather Service in Mobile has forecast a near-100 percent chance of rain for Saturday starting mid-morning, with possible thunderstorm activity increasing from mid-afternoon into evening, which could include heavy lightning.
In Baldwin County, two of Saturday’s parades had already been postponed to Sunday. The Krewe of Mullet Mates parade will run on Baldwin County Road 1 from Mullet Point Park to Weeks Bay at 2 p.m. Sunday. And the Mystics of Pleasure parade on Perdido Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach will also run at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Daphne’s Shadow Barons are still scheduled to roll at 6:45 p.m. Saturday.
No change has been announced yet for the coronation of Queen Kathleen by King Felix III, which was originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Mobile Convention Center.
Alabama State News will have updates on cancellations and postponements throughout the weekend as they become available.

Prattville Mardi Gras parade's start time, route changed on Saturday

PRATTVILLE, Al.
The city of Prattville plans to still host Saturday's 8th annual Mardi Gras parade, but at a different time and route, according to a release from the city.

Because of Saturday's severe weather forecast, the parade is now scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., instead of the original 3 p.m. start time.

In addition, the parade route has been changed to ensure the parade beats the afternoon storms predicted for the area.

The report says the parade will now begin at the Autauga County Courthouse, wind its way through downtown and end at the Stanley Jensen stadium.

Local food vendors will also be setting up early in the Partners in Pediatrics parking lot in downtown Prattville. Their booths should be open by 10 a.m.

The city will continue to monitor the weather and may cancel the parade if necessary.

For more information, call the Special Events office at 334-358-0297

AU student charged with arson, animal cruelty

Auburn, Al.

An Auburn University student is behind bars after allegedly starting a fire at the home of his ex-girlfriend that resulted in the deaths of five puppies.

Hal David Moore

Hal David Moore, 23, was arrested Thursday on eight felony warrants charging him with with second-degree arson, third-degree burglary and first-degree criminal mischief and five counts of first-degree cruelty to an animal. Auburn Fire Chief Lee Lamar confirmed Moore was also a student firefighter with the City of Auburn but could not comment further.

Auburn police were called to the Lee Road 12 mobile home after its homeowner found her front door had been broken into Thursday, Auburn Police Division Chief Tommy Dawson said Friday.

“When she went inside, she found that her bed had been burned up and heavy smoke damage inside the trailer,” Dawson said. Five puppies that were inside the trailer were found dead due to smoke inhalation.

The fire was contained to the bedroom of the home, Dawson said. It is not known at this point if an accelerant was used to start the fire.

After police began their investigation into the incident and Moore developed as a suspect, he was asked to come into the Auburn police office, where he was interviewed and subsequently taken into custody, Dawson said.

Moore has been booked into the Lee County Detention Facility where his bail has been set at $18,500. The incident remains under investigation.

Elmore sheriff: Man charged in Anna Cardwell killing staked out home before attack

WETUMPKA, Al.

Josh Caspari

Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin says two are in custody in the Wednesday shooting death of 20-year-old Anna Cardwell in her home off Hickory Drive in the Flatwood Community.

Josh Caspari, 22, of Tallassee, was arrested Thursday night and charged with murder after confessing to the killing, the sheriff said at a morning news conference.

In addition, Cody Abernathy, 22, of Tallassee, also was arrested Thursday and charged with first-degree hindering prosecution.

Caspari was a friend of Cardwell's, Franklin said.  Investigators say Cardwell was steering a mutual acquaintance away from a relationship with Caspari.

According to Franklin, Caspari admitted he was dropped off in a wooded area situated in a ditch near the residence of Cardwell, where he waited for Cardwell's mother to leave.

Once Cardwell was alone in the house, Caspari rang the doorbell and was let in by the victim. According to Franklin, the two argued and the victim was shot twice in the back and once in the shoulder.

Franklin said Cardwell then tried to run through the kitchen to a back door, but Caspari caught her, pulled her back into the house and shot her in the head, killing her.

Following the murder, Franklin said Caspari took the victim's keys and left in her 2006 Honda Civic. He later abandoned the car at the Wetumpka Winn-Dixie.

Caspari also admitted to stalking the home on Friday, Feb. 10, in the same wooded area, according to Franklin. Casapri said  he brought a mask, knife, gun and gas can to the area that day, but did not approach the house.

Franklin believes he did not approach the residence Friday because Cardwell was never left alone in the home. Authorities continue investigating.

Caspari confessed to the murder after authorities confronted the suspect with evidence found during a search of Caspari's apartment conducted Thursday morning.

Authorities removed 59 items from the apartment  as evidence, including muddy clothing, a weapon similar to the one used in the killing and illegal steroids.

Franklin believes several other criminal charges will stem from the search.

Cody Abernathy

Franklin said Abernathy drove Caspari to the wooded area on Wednesday as well as Friday. When questioned about this on two separate occasions, Abernathy lied to authorities about his whereabouts.

During a third questioning, Abernathy admitted to driving the suspect to the area both days.

Caspari's bond was set at $250,000. Abernathy's cash bond is set at $15,000.

Authorities do not expect additional arrests.

Cardwell was a graduate of Holtville High School Class of 2010 and was a sophomore student at Southern Union Junior College.

2 former public safety workers indicted for theft

MONTGOMERY, Al.
Alabama's attorney general has announced that two former state Public Safety Department workers have been indicted on charges of felony theft and ethics violations.

Attorney General Luther Strange says Kenneth Robert Grissett of Northport and Earl M. Champion of Cottondale surrendered Wednesday at the Tuscaloosa County Jail.

Former state trooper Grissett and former building custodian Champion are both charged with abusing their positions to steal more than $500 in gasoline.

The theft charges carry possible jail sentences of up to 10 years in jail and a fine of up to $15,000. The ethics charges could result in up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $30,000.

A spokeswoman for the attorney general says details of the theft are not being released at this time.