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."

Dothan Police Department make numerous arrests in series of burglaries at Houston Academy School

Dothan, Al.

The Dothan Police Department has made numerous arrests over the past two weeks while investigating a series of burglaries at Houston Academy School. The investigation has resulted in five individuals being charged with a combined total of thirteen felony counts bringing this extensive case to a close. Investigators say burglaries were committed at the school on February 10^th, 17^th and 28^th, 2012. During this same two week period, credit cards stolen during the burglaries were used at numerous Dothan convenience stores for purchases of gasoline and snacks. Individuals conspiring to commit this extensive series of crimes have now been arrested and charged with the incidents in which they were involved. 

·        Dustin Nicholas Holland, white male, 18 years of age, of Monterey Court was arrested and charged with three counts of Third Degree Burglary and two counts of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card with bonds totaling $25,000.

·        Alan Reid Parker Junior, white male, 18 years of age, of Prattville, Alabama was arrested and charged with two counts of Third Degree Burglary and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card with bonds totaling $15,000.

·        Alexa Michelle Wicher, white female, 18 years of age, of Sioux Street was arrested and charged with Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card with a $2,500.

·        Trevor Dewayne Parrish, white male, 20 years of age, of Anna Lee Drive was arrested and charged with two counts of Third Degree Burglary with bonds totaling $10,000.

·        Lauren Davis, white female, 18 years of age, of Tacoma Street was arrested and charged with two counts of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card with bonds totaling $10,000.

Oak Mountain State Park to host Cross Triathlon World Championship

PELHAM, Al.
 Oak Mountain State Park in May will be the host site for an event that's expected to bring more than 450 world-class athletes to Pelham.

Casey Fannin, will race for Team USA

Many of them will compete May 19 in the 2012 International Triathlon Union's Cross Triathlon World Championship, which is being held in the United States for the first time. ITU's inaugural Cross Tri World Championship was held last year in Extremadura, Spain.
More than 200 of the participants this year are expected to be from other countries, said Chris Hershey, an event planner for Shelby County.
The world championship, which involves a 1½ km swim, 30 km mountain bike ride and 10 km trail run, will be held in conjunction with the seventh annual XTERRA Southeast Championship race on the same day.
"It's a true world championship weekend that will bring athletes from over 25 countries and 40 states to Alabama," Pelham Mayor Don Murphy said. "It's going to be a big weekend for this area. We're just overjoyed to have them to come to our city."
The group organizing the weekend -- TEAM Unlimited/XTERRA -- said Oak Mountain is the perfect venue for the event, where competitors will swim, bike and run among the winding trails.
"Oak Mountain State Park is amazing," said Conrad Stoltz, a four-time XTERRA world champion from South Africa. "It's a true XTERRA course with a nice warm water swim in a beautiful lake, a real mountain biker's course with climbing, technical sections, and fun corners, and a tough but scenic run. This course is fully worthy of hosting a big international field of off-road athletes."

 

Hershey said it will cost $19,000 to hold the event. The city of Pelham has pledged $5,000, and the city of Hoover has pledged $3,000, while the Alabama Department of Tourism is giving $2,500 toward the event, he said. Shelby County will make up the difference, he said. Pelham and Oak Mountain State Park partnered with the Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers to finish the trail course.
The competition is expected to be an economic boost to area cities as athletes stay in hotels, eat at restaurants and shop at malls.
"It's a win-win situation for everyone," Hershey said. "Events like this can only benefit the park and the area as a whole."
Murphy said the local economic impact is expected to be more than $500,000.
Trey Garman, TEAM Unlimited/XTERRA vice president, said athletes from the different countries will wear their team colors as they compete in the championship. Among the countries expected to be represented are South Africa, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Japan, New Zealand, Kyrgyzstan, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Portugal and Austria.
"It's a really big deal," Garman said. "When we thought about destinations to host such an event, Oak Mountain is hands down our best course. Oak Mountain has received a lot of accolades for being world-class."
Double Oak Trail at Oak Mountain State Park is part of "The Crown Jewels" in The Trail, a special trail-running publication put out by Runner's World magazine.
"To have this in Pelham and the United States is huge," said Casey Fannin, a two-time XTERRA world champion from Hoover.
Murphy said he hopes the international competition will become an annual event at Oak Mountain.