MONTGOMERY, Al.
Police and community groups say they're working to find a way to end a spate of violence in the city after several shootings left three people dead and 22 injured in the past two months.
Police have arrested 11 suspects in the shootings, all of them between the ages of 16 and 23 and most of them 20 or younger.
The Rev. Ed Nettles says that he's working to help forge a truce between two feuding groups.
Nettles, founder of the "Enough Is Enough" campaign against violent crime in Montgomery, said he's begun the process of reaching out to leaders of both groups.
Montgomery Public Safety Director Chris Murphy also said that police are working hard to develop new approaches to the evolving problem.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Huntsville police searching for two armed men who robbed Walgreens
HUNTSVILLE, Al.
Huntsville police are searching for two armed men who robbed the Walgreens store at University Drive and Jordan Lane this morning just after 5 a.m.
Police said two men wearing dark hooded sweatshirts and brandishing guns entered the store and demanded money, then left with an undisclosed amount of cash.No one was injured in the robbery.
As of 6:45 a.m., police were still on the scene, scouring the area with a K-9 unit and checking surveillance cameras at the Walgreens and surrounding businesses.
Huntsville police are searching for two armed men who robbed the Walgreens store at University Drive and Jordan Lane this morning just after 5 a.m.
Police said two men wearing dark hooded sweatshirts and brandishing guns entered the store and demanded money, then left with an undisclosed amount of cash.No one was injured in the robbery.
As of 6:45 a.m., police were still on the scene, scouring the area with a K-9 unit and checking surveillance cameras at the Walgreens and surrounding businesses.
Federal trial to begin for Alabama's ex-small business chief on fraud charges
BIRMINGHAM, Al.
Jury selection is to begin today in the federal trial of the former director of the Alabama Small Business Development Consortium who is charged with defrauding the state of more than $7 million.
Maurice Campbell Jr., of Rainbow City, is charged with mail and wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering in a 96-count indictment issued in March by a grand jury. He is accused of using state money for the benefit of himself and others.
Federal prosecutors also intend to ask that Campbell forfeit more than $7.3 million in cash or property.
U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon will preside over the trial at the Hugo L. Black U.S. Courthouse in Birmingham. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamarra Matthews Johnson is the lead prosecutor and Stephen W. Shaw is Campbell's lead defense attorney.
Prosecutors and a defense attorney last week declined comment on the pending trial.
Campbell was hired in January 2003 as state director of the consortium. That group was composed of four-year universities in the state -- each with its own small business development center -- as well as a procurement technical center and an international trade center. The group was formed to help provide management and technical assistance to small businesses, and to develop Alabama's workforce.
In February 2005 Campbell incorporated the private nonprofit Alabama Small Business Institute of Commerce. He also served as the institute's president. The institute's mission was to enhance economic development, increase employment, and reduce business failure in Alabama through business education and workforce training, according to his indictment.
The private nonprofit institute received almost all funding -- more than $7.3 million from 2005 through 2010 -- from the state. The money came from state sources including the state's education budget. Campbell and others provided less than 20 percent of the state funding obtained by the institute to the public four-year colleges and universities that were members of the consortium, according to the indictment.
The indictment states Campbell and others created a number of other companies or groups into which state funds provided to the institute were deposited and later spent.
Three other people were charged and have pleaded guilty in the case: the bookkeeper for the institute, Mickie Kelso; the executive director of the institute, Benjamin Johnson; and the former head of marketing for the consortium, Lauren Young.
Kelso, Johnson and Young are to be sentenced in hearings set for early next year.
Campbell got direct access to the bank accounts of the institute through check cards, according to the indictment, "and would and did use those checkcards to make over one million dollars in purchases including jewelry, clothing, personal services, food, lodging, and gas."
Among the purchases listed in Campbell's indictment were made at Reed's Jewelers, Jos. A. Bank, Ultra Diamonds, Neiman Marcus, and Hooters.
The first four questions -- of 18 total -- on a proposed list of questions by federal prosecutors to ask the pool of potential jurors is whether they or an immediate family member have ever worked at a Hooter's restaurant and whether they have ever visited one of the restaurants.
Campbell also used state funding through the institute "to issue tens of thousands of dollars in checks to women called the "Little Sisters" and to make purchases for the "Little Sisters," according to the indictment.
Court documents do not indicate who the "Little Sisters" are. But a few more details about the expenditures on the women are in the court documents of Campbell's three co-defendants.
Campbell was using institute funds to take the "Little Sisters" to dinner, shopping and write them checks, according to Young's plea agreement. "Young knew that the Little Sisters had not performed any services for the Institute or served the Institute's mission in any way to justify the money, meals, clothing, jewelry and other items they received," according to Young's plea agreement.
In his plea agreement Johnson states that among the purchases he was directed by Campbell to make for the "Little Sisters" was the purchase of bracelets using Johnson's institute checkcard. "The Incorporator (Campbell) directed that those bracelets be engraved with the words "Lil Sister" and "Sir William,"' according to Johnson's plea agreement.
"The (institute) incorporator (Campbell) also directed Johnson to purchase items from Coach for the "Little Sisters" using Johnson's institute checkcards," according to Johnson's plea agreement.
Jury selection is to begin today in the federal trial of the former director of the Alabama Small Business Development Consortium who is charged with defrauding the state of more than $7 million.
 |
| Maurice Campbell Jr. |
Federal prosecutors also intend to ask that Campbell forfeit more than $7.3 million in cash or property.
U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon will preside over the trial at the Hugo L. Black U.S. Courthouse in Birmingham. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamarra Matthews Johnson is the lead prosecutor and Stephen W. Shaw is Campbell's lead defense attorney.
Prosecutors and a defense attorney last week declined comment on the pending trial.
Campbell was hired in January 2003 as state director of the consortium. That group was composed of four-year universities in the state -- each with its own small business development center -- as well as a procurement technical center and an international trade center. The group was formed to help provide management and technical assistance to small businesses, and to develop Alabama's workforce.
In February 2005 Campbell incorporated the private nonprofit Alabama Small Business Institute of Commerce. He also served as the institute's president. The institute's mission was to enhance economic development, increase employment, and reduce business failure in Alabama through business education and workforce training, according to his indictment.
The private nonprofit institute received almost all funding -- more than $7.3 million from 2005 through 2010 -- from the state. The money came from state sources including the state's education budget. Campbell and others provided less than 20 percent of the state funding obtained by the institute to the public four-year colleges and universities that were members of the consortium, according to the indictment.
The indictment states Campbell and others created a number of other companies or groups into which state funds provided to the institute were deposited and later spent.
Three other people were charged and have pleaded guilty in the case: the bookkeeper for the institute, Mickie Kelso; the executive director of the institute, Benjamin Johnson; and the former head of marketing for the consortium, Lauren Young.
Kelso, Johnson and Young are to be sentenced in hearings set for early next year.
Campbell got direct access to the bank accounts of the institute through check cards, according to the indictment, "and would and did use those checkcards to make over one million dollars in purchases including jewelry, clothing, personal services, food, lodging, and gas."
Among the purchases listed in Campbell's indictment were made at Reed's Jewelers, Jos. A. Bank, Ultra Diamonds, Neiman Marcus, and Hooters.
The first four questions -- of 18 total -- on a proposed list of questions by federal prosecutors to ask the pool of potential jurors is whether they or an immediate family member have ever worked at a Hooter's restaurant and whether they have ever visited one of the restaurants.
Campbell also used state funding through the institute "to issue tens of thousands of dollars in checks to women called the "Little Sisters" and to make purchases for the "Little Sisters," according to the indictment.
Court documents do not indicate who the "Little Sisters" are. But a few more details about the expenditures on the women are in the court documents of Campbell's three co-defendants.
Campbell was using institute funds to take the "Little Sisters" to dinner, shopping and write them checks, according to Young's plea agreement. "Young knew that the Little Sisters had not performed any services for the Institute or served the Institute's mission in any way to justify the money, meals, clothing, jewelry and other items they received," according to Young's plea agreement.
In his plea agreement Johnson states that among the purchases he was directed by Campbell to make for the "Little Sisters" was the purchase of bracelets using Johnson's institute checkcard. "The Incorporator (Campbell) directed that those bracelets be engraved with the words "Lil Sister" and "Sir William,"' according to Johnson's plea agreement.
"The (institute) incorporator (Campbell) also directed Johnson to purchase items from Coach for the "Little Sisters" using Johnson's institute checkcards," according to Johnson's plea agreement.
Auburn Police looking for license plate thieves
AUBURN, AL.
The Auburn Police Division is asking for the public’s help in identifying the person or persons responsible for stealing nearly 30 license plates off of vehicles and trailers over the past two weeks.
While the tag thefts have been reported in locations throughout the city, most have occurred in the 100 block of North Debardeleben Street, 400 block of East Magnolia Avenue, 300 and 400 blocks of West Glenn Avenue, and 500 block of East Glenn Avenue. Police are stepping up patrols in these areas and anyone with information is asked to contact the Auburn Police Division at (334) 501-3140 or anonymously by voice or text on the tip line at (334) 246-1391.
Citizens are also encouraged to report suspicious activity in and around parking areas to police immediately.
The Auburn Police Division is asking for the public’s help in identifying the person or persons responsible for stealing nearly 30 license plates off of vehicles and trailers over the past two weeks.
Citizens are also encouraged to report suspicious activity in and around parking areas to police immediately.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Convicted sex offender from Arizona arrested in Alabama
Gadsden, Al.
A convicted sex offender from Arizona has been arrested for violation of the Community Notification Act after he did not register to live in Etowah County, Sheriff Todd Entrekin said.
A convicted sex offender from Arizona has been arrested for violation of the Community Notification Act after he did not register to live in Etowah County, Sheriff Todd Entrekin said.
| Thomas Lee Jolly |
Thomas Lee Jolly, 41, Kingman, Ariz., was homeless when he came to Etowah County about a month ago and appears to have been trying to avoid detection by area law enforcement, Etowah County Sheriff's Office investigator Josh Morgan said.
Someone let him and the 19-year-old woman he was traveling with live in a camper in the Tidmore Bend community, unaware he was a convicted sex offender.
The owner of the camper became suspicious after what appeared to be child pornography showed up on a computer. After checking into Jolly's background, it was discovered he is a convicted sex offender in Arizona.
The person who had let him stay in the camper contacted the sheriff's office. Jolly was arrested and the computer was seized so it can be analyzed, Morgan said.
Morgan said Jolly was convicted in Arizona of rape and sodomy-related charges involving a 13-year-old girl.
The woman with Jolly did not know he was a convicted sex offender and has since returned to Arizona.
A $50,000 cash bond was set for Jolly and charges are expected in Arizona for leaving the state with notifying proper authorities. He has faced those charges before.
“This is not the first time he has left Arizona without reporting it to authorities,” Morgan said.
Someone let him and the 19-year-old woman he was traveling with live in a camper in the Tidmore Bend community, unaware he was a convicted sex offender.
The owner of the camper became suspicious after what appeared to be child pornography showed up on a computer. After checking into Jolly's background, it was discovered he is a convicted sex offender in Arizona.
The person who had let him stay in the camper contacted the sheriff's office. Jolly was arrested and the computer was seized so it can be analyzed, Morgan said.
Morgan said Jolly was convicted in Arizona of rape and sodomy-related charges involving a 13-year-old girl.
The woman with Jolly did not know he was a convicted sex offender and has since returned to Arizona.
A $50,000 cash bond was set for Jolly and charges are expected in Arizona for leaving the state with notifying proper authorities. He has faced those charges before.
“This is not the first time he has left Arizona without reporting it to authorities,” Morgan said.
Woman stopped by Decatur police hid meth on her son, 6, officers say
DECATUR, Al.
Police in Decatur arrested a woman they say hid methamphetamine on her 6-year-old son.
Officers stopped Heather Haygood for a traffic violation Thursday night. During an investigation, officers found meth on the boy and found chemicals used to manufacture the drug in the vehicle.
Haygood was arrested on charges of chemical endangerment of a child, second degree unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.
She was being held in the Morgan County jail on $57,000 bond. It was not immediately clear whether she had a lawyer.
Police in Decatur arrested a woman they say hid methamphetamine on her 6-year-old son.
Officers stopped Heather Haygood for a traffic violation Thursday night. During an investigation, officers found meth on the boy and found chemicals used to manufacture the drug in the vehicle.
Haygood was arrested on charges of chemical endangerment of a child, second degree unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.
She was being held in the Morgan County jail on $57,000 bond. It was not immediately clear whether she had a lawyer.
Crab-trap thief Steven Shutt has a long history of marine enforcement violations
BAY MINETTE, Al.
A Baldwin County jury this week found a crab fisherman guilty of stealing dozens of commercial crab traps.
Lt. Trey Pose of the Alabama Marine Resources Enforcement Division said the jury’s decision is the largest crab-related conviction in the division’s history based on the value of the stolen traps.
Pose said Friday that officers began looking into Steven Randall Shutt after they were informed in Oct. 2009 that he had been talking about getting into the crab business by stealing other fishermen’s traps.
Officers then tracked Shutt’s activities over the next several months but were not able to catch him in possession of any stolen traps, Pose said.
On Feb. 16, 2010, Pose said, he received a tip that Shutt was about to launch his boat loaded with crab traps into Little Lagoon west of Gulf Shores.
When the deployed traps were checked, Pose said, he was able to identify several as belonging to other crabbers.
Officers called Shutt to the scene, where he claimed all of the traps were his.
Pose said officers later discovered 50 traps at Shutt’s house. He then told officers that he had either snagged the traps in his gill net or bought them from shrimp boats that had brought the traps onboard in nets, according to Pose.
Shutt told officers he paid $5 each for the traps off the shrimp boats, but he could not remember the names of the boats.
Pose said the traps Shutt claimed to have caught in his gill net should have been immediately returned to the water.
Ultimately, officers confirmed that 45 of the traps belonged to other crabbers. Several still had the true owners’ names etched on the traps. Others were identified through their unique construction, Pose said.
Three active Baldwin County crab fishermen owned 25 of the traps while the remainder were owned by fishermen who had moved away from the area, Pose said.
Each trap has a value of between $35 and $45, according to Pose.
Shutt has a long history with marine enforcement officers with charges for 11 previous violations relating to use of a commercial gillnet, according to Pose.
Several convictions caused him to lose his commercial gill-net license several years ago, Pose said.
Shutt was first convicted by a Baldwin County District Court judge during a bench trial in April 2010. He appealed that decision to Baldwin County Circuit Court, where the trial was held this week.
His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 12.
In addition to possible prison time, Shutt faces fines and restitution, Pose said.
Pose said the case highlights the persistent problem on Mobile Bay of people stealing commercial and recreational crab traps and the crabs inside, especially among the small community of roughly 10 active crab fishermen working out of Baldwin County.
“Whether it’s Steven Shutt stealing their traps or a recreational fisherman taking a couple dozen crabs then throwing the trap back in the water and thinking it’s OK, it’s stealing,” Pose said. “This is how these people put food on the table.”
A Baldwin County jury this week found a crab fisherman guilty of stealing dozens of commercial crab traps.
Lt. Trey Pose of the Alabama Marine Resources Enforcement Division said the jury’s decision is the largest crab-related conviction in the division’s history based on the value of the stolen traps.
 |
| Steven Randall Shutt |
Officers then tracked Shutt’s activities over the next several months but were not able to catch him in possession of any stolen traps, Pose said.
On Feb. 16, 2010, Pose said, he received a tip that Shutt was about to launch his boat loaded with crab traps into Little Lagoon west of Gulf Shores.
When the deployed traps were checked, Pose said, he was able to identify several as belonging to other crabbers.
Officers called Shutt to the scene, where he claimed all of the traps were his.
Pose said officers later discovered 50 traps at Shutt’s house. He then told officers that he had either snagged the traps in his gill net or bought them from shrimp boats that had brought the traps onboard in nets, according to Pose.
Shutt told officers he paid $5 each for the traps off the shrimp boats, but he could not remember the names of the boats.
Pose said the traps Shutt claimed to have caught in his gill net should have been immediately returned to the water.
Ultimately, officers confirmed that 45 of the traps belonged to other crabbers. Several still had the true owners’ names etched on the traps. Others were identified through their unique construction, Pose said.
Three active Baldwin County crab fishermen owned 25 of the traps while the remainder were owned by fishermen who had moved away from the area, Pose said.
Each trap has a value of between $35 and $45, according to Pose.
Shutt has a long history with marine enforcement officers with charges for 11 previous violations relating to use of a commercial gillnet, according to Pose.
Several convictions caused him to lose his commercial gill-net license several years ago, Pose said.
Shutt was first convicted by a Baldwin County District Court judge during a bench trial in April 2010. He appealed that decision to Baldwin County Circuit Court, where the trial was held this week.
His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 12.
In addition to possible prison time, Shutt faces fines and restitution, Pose said.
Pose said the case highlights the persistent problem on Mobile Bay of people stealing commercial and recreational crab traps and the crabs inside, especially among the small community of roughly 10 active crab fishermen working out of Baldwin County.
“Whether it’s Steven Shutt stealing their traps or a recreational fisherman taking a couple dozen crabs then throwing the trap back in the water and thinking it’s OK, it’s stealing,” Pose said. “This is how these people put food on the table.”
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