Trial Docket / Prosecutions
Please contact our office if you have any questions at (256) 764-6351.
TRIALS/PLEAS OF NOTE:
State v Ross Newton Wooten - Deaths of Lauren and Blakely Cowart
Newton was charged with two counts of manslaughter for recklessly causing the deaths of Lauren Cowart and her daughter, Blakely, in a boat crash.
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On August 18, 2022, after the jury trial had begun, Wooten pled guilty to two counts of Criminally Negligent Homicide while Impaired. He was sentenced to 20 years; split to serve 4 years in prison. The families of Lauren and Blakely approved the settlement.
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State v Jessie James Parker - Murder of Devan Cobb
Parker was charged with Murder in the death of Devan Cobb. On November 18, 2022, after a jury had been selected, Parker pled guilty as charged to Murder and received a 35 year prison sentence. Devan Cobb’s parents and his wife approved the settlement.
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State v Peggy Hall - Capital Murder of Randall Steve Bobo
State v Randall Coty Bobo - Accomplice to Capital Murder of Randall Steve Bobo
On December 22, 2022, Peggy Hall pled guilty as charged to capital murder for killing her ex-husband, Randall Steve Bobo. Her son, Randall Coty Bobo, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Murder for his involvement in the murder. He received a sentence of 20 years, split to serve 5 years in prison. Dawn Bobo, the widow of Randall Steve Bobo, approved this settlement.
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State v Robert Hastings - Murder of Scott Merriner
On October 17, 2022, Hastings pled guilty as charged to murder. He was sentenced to life in prison. The parents of Scott Merriner approved this settlement.
JURY TRIALS:
Week of October 18, 2021
Judge Will Powell
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State v Derrick Turnley
Charge: Murder of Bo Cherry
Prosecutors: Chris Connolly and Coty Hand
Defense Attorney: Tim Case
Verdict: GUILTY as charged
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Week of August 16, 2021
NOTE: Jury trials were cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
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Cases of note that settled:
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Jonathan Keith - Pled guilty to Robbery in the first degree. Sentenced to 20 years in prison by Judge Powell.
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Charles Bradley Montgomery - Pled guilty to manslaughter of his father. Agreed upon sentence - 20 years. Formal sentencing set in October.
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Verde Beede - Pled guilty to sexual misconduct; Sentence includes a lifetime Protection from Abuse Order and lifetime sex offender registration. Sentenced by Judge Ben Graves.
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Week of February 10, 2020
Judge Ben Graves
State v Tamra Sharp
Charge: Manslaughter (2 counts)
Prosecutors: Chris Connolly
Defense Attorney: Brad Phillips
Result: GUILTY pleas - as charged to two counts of manslaughter
Sentence: 10 years, split to serve 2 years in prison
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Week of October 21, 2019
Judge Ben Graves
State v Timothy V Murphy
Charge: Attempted Murder of Deputy Randall McCrary
Prosecutors: Chris Connolly and Will Gieske
Defense Attorney: Jim Engelthaler
Result: GUILTY as charged
Sentence: On November 8, 2019, Judge Ben Graves sentenced Murphy to 99 years in prison.
Week of September 9, 2019
State v Khadedryck Todd (Victim: Anthony Coleman)
Charge: Murder
Prosecutors: Angie Hamilton
Defense Attorney: Tim Case
Result: GUILTY Plea to Manslaughter
Sentence: Twenty (20) Years; split to serve 5 years in prison
The family of Anthony Coleman requested that the case be resolved in this manner after the jury was selected.
Week of October 15, 2018
Judge Wil Powell
State v Zachariah Reeves
Charge: Sodomy 1st and Attempted Sodomy 1st
Prosecutor: Angie Hamilton
Defense Attorney: Jamey Poss
Result: GUILTY Plea to Attempted Sodomy 1st
Agreed Sentence: Fifteen(15) years; split to serve 18 months in prison. Lifetime Sex Offender Registration
Week of October 15, 2018
Judge Ben Graves
State v Daniel Keen
Charge: Sex Abuse 1st
Prosecutor: Angie Hamilton
Defense Attorney: Temberly Sledge
Result: GUIILTY plea
Agreed Sentence: Ten(10) years, split to time served. Lifetime Sex Offender Registration
week of June 11, 2018
Judge: Gil Self
State v Steven Chase Stanfield
Charge(s): Capital Murder (2 counts - murders of Mike Linville and Marguerite Garcia)
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly and Angie Hamilton
Defense Attorneys: Jeff Austin and Melinda Morgan Austin
Result: GUILTY PLEA to two counts of murder
Sentence: 25 years in prison on each count to run concurrently
week of February 12, 2018
Judge Gil Self
State v Daryl Raymond Jr.
Charge(s): Sexual Abuse of Child Under 12 -6 charges
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly and Rennie Moody
Defense Attorney(s): Jim Engelthaler
Result: GUILTY Pleas to Attempted Sex Abuse of a child under 12 (2 charges)
Agreed Sentence: 20 years; split to serve 4 years in prison followed by lifetime Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification
State v Warren Nicholas Hoffman
Charge(s): Assault 1st - 2 charges
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly and Rennie Moody
Defense Attorney(s): Jenny Behel-Thigpen
Result: GUILTY Plea as charged
Agreed Sentence: 126 months; split to serve 36 months in prison
State v Devin Harrison
Charge(s): Manslaughter, Assault 1st, Assault 3rd
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly
Defense Attorney(s): Chris Smith
Result: Guilty Pleas to Criminally Negligent Homicide while impaired; Assault 1st
Agreed Sentence: 10 years, split to serve 24 months--with 12 months in prison followed by 12 months in work release
week of February 12, 2018
Judge Will Powell
State v Chris L. Liles
Charge(s): Rape 1st - 3 charges and Sexual Abuse 1st - 3 charges
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly
Defense Attorney(s): Maurice McCaney
Result: GUILTY Pleas - Sexual Abuse 1st degree - 2 charges
Agreed Sentence: 15 years in prison followed by lifetime Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification
week of December 11, 2017
Judge Ben Graves
State v Kenneth Lawson
Charge(s): Promoting Prison Contraband & Attempt to Distribute Controlled Substances
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly and Rennie Moody
Defense Attorney(s): Tim Case
Result: GUILTY Plea to Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substances
State v Jerry Minton
Charge(s): Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (meth)
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly and Rennie Moody
Defense Attorney(s): Jared Bevis
Result: Defendant failed to appear for trial. Bench Warrant issued for his arrest.
week of November 13, 2017
Judge Gil Self
State v Corey A. Davis
Charge(s): Rape, Human Trafficking
Prosecutor(s): Angie Hamilton
Defense Attorney(s): Marty Newell
Sentences: Life in prison x2
week of October 16, 2017
Judge Gil Self
State v Alphonzo Ramon Jarmon
Charge(s): Murder of Charles Hugh Perkins
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly and Rennie Moody
Defense Attorney(s): Jean Darby
Verdict: GUILTY, as charged
Sentence: Life in prison
week of December 11, 2017
Judge Ben Graves
State v Kenneth Lawson
Charge(s): Promoting Prison Contraband & Attempt to Distribute Controlled Substances
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly and Rennie Moody
Defense Attorney(s): Tim Case
Result: GUILTY Plea to Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substances
State v Jerry Minton
Charge(s): Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (meth)
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly and Rennie Moody
Defense Attorney(s): Jared Bevis
Result: Defendant failed to appear for trial. Bench Warrant issued for his arrest.
week of November 13, 2017
Judge Gil Self
State v Corey A. Davis
Charge(s): Rape, Human Trafficking
Prosecutor(s): Angie Hamilton
Defense Attorney(s): Marty Newell
Sentences: Life in prison x2
week of October 16, 2017
Judge Gil Self
State v Alphonzo Ramon Jarmon
Charge(s): Murder of Charles Hugh Perkins
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly and Rennie Moody
Defense Attorney(s): Jean Darby
Verdict: GUILTY, as charged
Sentence: Life in prison
week of April 10, 2017
Judge Ben Graves
State v Timothy Murphy
Charge(s): Attempted Murder (Victim: Deputy Randall McCrary)
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly and Angie Hamilton
Defense Attorney(s): Vicky Willard
Verdict: GUILTY as charged
Sentence: 99 years in prison
week of March 6, 2017
Judge Gil Self
State v Gary Weeks
Charge(s): Attempted Assault 1st; Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement
Prosecutor(s): Angie Hamilton
Defense Attorney(s): None - Defendant opted to represent himself
Verdict: GUILTY as charged
week of April 10, 2017
Judge Ben Graves
State v Timothy Murphy
Charge(s): Attempted Murder (Victim: Deputy Randall McCrary)
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly and Angie Hamilton
Defense Attorney(s): Vicky Willard
Verdict: GUILTY as charged
Sentence: 99 years in prison
week of March 6, 2017
Judge Gil Self
State v Gary Weeks
Charge(s): Attempted Assault 1st; Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement
Prosecutor(s): Angie Hamilton
Defense Attorney(s): None - Defendant opted to represent himself
Verdict: GUILTY as charged
week of January 9, 2017
Judge Gil Self
State v Shannon Johnson
Charge(s): Murder of Keith Barnett
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly and Angie Hamilton
Defense Attorney(s): Chris Childers
Jury Verdict: GUILTY of murder as charged.
Sentence: Life in Prison
week of November 14, 2016
Judge Gil Self
State v Patrick Sherwood
Charge(s): Financial Exploitation of Elderly 1st Degree
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly
Defense Attorney(s): Chuck Warren
Jury Verdict: GUILTY as charged
week of October 17, 2016
Judge Mike Jones
State v Danny Robinson, Jr.
Charge(s): Trafficking in Meth; Carrying Pistol without Permit; Promoting Prison Contraband
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly
Defense Attorney(s): Jamy Poss
Jury Verdict: GUILTY as charged
State v Mandy Hays
Charge(s): Theft 2nd Degree (Shoplifting at Belks)
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly
Defense Attorney(s): Tim Case
Result: GUILTY plea to Theft 2nd Degree, as charged, after jury was selected
week of September 12, 2016
Judge Gil Self
State v Jeremy D Martin
Charge(s): Manslaughter (Death of Heath Atkisson)
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly and Angie Hamilton
Defense Attorney(s): Tim Case
Result: GUILTY Plea to Criminally Negligent Homicide (while impaired)
Sentence: 20 years; split to serve 5 years in prison
week of August 15, 2016
Judge Mike Jones
State v Robert Chase Capley
Charge(s): Manslaughter
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly
Defense Attorney(s): Darryl Moon
Verdict: GUILTY as charged
week of June 13, 2016
Judge Gil Self
State v Matthew Ray Tidwell
Charge(s): Manslaughter; Assault 1st x 2
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly
Defense Attorney(s): Dustin McCown
Settlement: Defendant pled guilty to Manslaughter, as charged; Assault 3rd x2
Sentence: Prison - 126 months; split to serve 33 months in prison; 12 months on each assault consecutive with each other, concurrent with 33 months prison sentence.
week of May 16, 2016
Judge Mike Jones
State v Brian Peden
Charge(s): Manslaughter (Death of Shirley Brannon)
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly
Defense Attorney(s): Tim Case
Verdict: GUILTY of lesser offense - Criminally Negligent Homicide (misdemeanor)
Sentence: Serve 12 months in Lauderdale County Detention Center
week of March 14, 2016
Judge Mike Jones
State v Terrance Garrett
Charge(s): Burglary 1st, Robbery 1st, Attempted Murder, Shooting into Occupied Dwelling
Prosecutor(s): Angie Hamilton
Defense Attorney(s): Jim Engelthaler
Verdict: GUILTY of Burglary 1st and Assault 2nd
week of February 8, 2016
Judge Gil Self
State v Shannon Ray Johnson
Charge(s): Perjury in the 1st Degree
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly
Defense Attorney(s): Chris Childers
Verdict: GUILTY as charged
Sentencing: Scheduled for March 9, 2016
week of January 11, 2016
Judge Mike Jones
State v Stephen D Parker
Charge(s): Criminally Negligent Homicide by DUI (Death of Jamie Green); Assault 1st by DUI (Serious Injuries to Mannon Rogers)
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly
Defense Attorney(s): Tim Case
Verdict: Criminally Negligent Homicide
Assault 2nd
Conviction Upheld by Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals in decision released February 3, 2017 (to view the court's written memoradum opinion, click here).
week of December 7, 2015
Judge Gil Self
State v Timothy B Standfield
Charge(s): Bank Robbery (1st Degree Robbery)
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly and Angie Hamilton
Defense Attorney(s): Jim Engelthaler
Result: GUILTY plea to 1st Degree Robbery with agreed sentence of 20 years in prison consecutive to
an 11 year federal sentence for bank robbery
week of November 16, 2015
Judge Mike Jones
State v Jeremy Williams
Charge(s): Capital Murder (Victim: Brioni Rutland)
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly & Will Powell
Defense Attorney(s): Chris Childers & Charlie Bottoms
Verdict: GUILTY of Murder
Sentence: Life in Prison
Conviction Upheld by Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals in decision released February 3, 2017 (to view the court's written memoradum opinion, click here).
week of September 14, 2015
Judge Mike Jones
State v Ryan Wilkes (death of Landon Letsinger)
Charge(s): Unlawful Distribution of Controlled Substance (NBomb)
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly
Defense Attorney(s): Ralph Holt
Summary: Ryan Wilkes pled guilty to Unlawful Distribution of a controlled substance to 17 year old Landon Letsinger. Landon lost his life due to ingesting the drugs supplied by Wilkes. The drug, NBomb, is a synthetic hallucinogenic substance. After much consultation with Landon's parents, we agreed to settle this matter with Wilkes pleading guilty to supplying the substance to Landon and receiving a 10 year sentence, split to serve 2 years in prison, followed by 1 year in our community corrections program on an ankle monitor. He is in the county jail awaiting a formal sentencing hearing, which is set for October 29, 2015.
State v Donnie Green
Charge(s): Theft 2nd degree
Prosecutor(s): Will Powell
Defense Attorney(s): Chuck Warren
Verdict: GUILTY of Theft 3rd degree
State v Ryon O'Neal Russell
Charge(s): Bail Jumping 1st degree
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly
Defense Attorney(s): Tim Case
Result: GUILTY plea to Bail Jumping 1st degree – agreed sentence: 25 years to prison
week of June 15, 2015
Judge Mike Jones
State v Jeffery Taft Lee
Charge(s): Manslaughter (Death of Gary Fields)
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly
Defense Attorney(s): Jenny Behel Thigpen
Result: GUILTY plea to Manslaughter with agreed 15 year sentence
State v Scott B. Jones
Charge(s): Manslaughter (Death of Gavin Gray)
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly
Defense Attorney(s): Chuck Warren
Result: GUILTY plea to Criminally Negligent Homicide with agreed sentence of 10 years, split to serve two years in prison, followed by 60 months probation
week of May 18, 2015
Judge Gil Self
State v Eugene Jones
Charge(s): Murder of Lu La Addison
Prosecutor(s): Chris Connolly and Will Powell
Defense Attorney(s): Dustin McCown
Jury Verdict: GUILTY of Manslaughter
week of April 13, 2015
Judge Mike Jones