Man serving time for Anniston robbery sentenced for birmingham rape and robbery

Patrick O'Neal Warren

State prosecutors announced Wednesday that a Birmingham man, serving a life sentence for robbing an Anniston woman at knife-point in 2011, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two additional crimes.

Patrick O’Neal Warren pleaded guilty to first-degree rape and attempted murder in a Jefferson County Circuit court.

Warren admitted to attacking two women in two separate crimes in 2008. He used knives in both of those attacks. Warren was sentenced Wednesday to two additional life sentences.

At the time of his latest c

onvictions, Warren was serving life in prison after pleading guilty in December 2011 to attacking and robbing an Anniston woman at knifepoint in April 2006. Warren received life in that case because he had two prior felony convictions from 2001 for robbery and rape.

Warren’s latest convictions were the result of an investigation by the Attorney General’s Cold Case Unit.

Trial date set for Gadsden man in Oxford murder

Brandon Hawkins

A Calhoun County judge scheduled a December trial for a Gadsden man accused of killing an Oxford restaurant employee.

Brandon Hawkins' trial is set to begin December 7, exactly four years to the day after his arrest for the September 9, 2011, shooting of Barbara Exum.  Investigators said Hawkins murdered Exum during a robbery at the Papa John's on Snow Street in Oxford, where the 56-year-old woman was an assistant manager.

Hawkins was 21 at the time of the shooting.  He is accused of going into the Papa John's around 11:30 p.m. and striking one employee in the head with a handgun.  Police said the suspect then grabbed Exum and demanded money before shooting her in the chest.

Hawkins is charged with capital murder as the killing involved a robbery.  He also faces a second-degree assault charge for striking the other employee.

He pled guilty in January to first-degree robbery of the HR Food Mart in Anniston.  That incident happened one week after the Papa John's robbery.

21 year old Donquavious Russell, is also charged with capital murder in this investigation.

Lincoln outlaws sky lanterns including Talladega Superspeedway

The Lincoln City Council during its meeting Tuesday approved a ban on aerial luminaries, or sky lanterns.

Lincoln fire Lt. Joshua Vincent, city safety director said they have a lot of problems with sky lanterns during race weeks at Talladega super speedway.

Vincent said aerial luminaries are essentially miniature hot air balloons, which are essentially free-floating open flames.

Vincent said sky lanterns are a fire hazard because once lit and aloft, there is no control over where they go or land.

The council suspended the rules and adopted the ordinance, which makes it unlawful to “buy, sell, barter, exchange, trade, offer for sale, distribute, give away, possess, ignite, discharge, light, fly, release into the atmosphere, otherwise use or bring into the city or its police jurisdiction ‘aerial luminaries,’ which are defined in the ordinance as “a lantern, commonly of paper with a bamboo or other frame, using an attached heat source to become and remain airborne by the use of heated air.”

The council also authorized Lincoln Mayor Bud Kitchin to publicize the ordinance which will allow the city to begin enforcement immediately.

Kitchin said it would apply in the police jurisdiction, which includes the Talladega Superspeedway and the campgrounds along Speedway Boulevard.

Troopers prepare for race weekend

One of the busiest weekends for state troopers is about to be here.

About 100 Alabama Law Enforcement Agency officers will work crowd and traffic control at the Talladega SuperSpeedway, but proposed budget cuts could mean fewer troopers at future races.

Chairman Grant Lynch said "The state troopers have been an integral part of getting these crowds in and out since the racetrack was built in 1969.  Calling the troopers a vital cog in our traffic management system.

He said the SuperSpeedway does a lot for the state, and hopes the state will continue to provide a large number of troopers.  A study by a professor at Auburn University-Montgomery found the SuperSpeedway spent an average of $43-million a year for the past decade.

Lynch said the track generated $390-million a year during the same time period.  He said it's because the majority of the fan base travels a long distance for the event; 71% came to Talladega from more than 290 miles away.

Ashville teacher arrested on sex charges

Anthony Rice

Ashville authorities and the Ashville City Schools superintendent confirm that an Ashville High School coach has been arrested for having sexual contact with a student.

The city jail confirms that Anthony Rice is in custody on a $300,000 bond. He is charged with three counts of a school employee engaging in a sex act with a student under 19.

Superintendent Jenny Seals says that as of Tuesday, Rice is no longer a school system employee.

The St. Clair County DA Richard Minor says the high school principal notified the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office on Monday about the incidents. They investigated and arrested Rice on Monday.

Investigators say Rice had a four-month long, sexual relationship with a student under 19.

According to the high school website, Rice taught driver's education and physical education in addition to being the varsity boys basketball coach, varsity cross-country coach and an assistant football coach.

Four arrested in Cherokee county traffic stop

Cherokee County investigators have arrested four people after seizing about 390 grams of synthetic marijuana during a traffic stop.

Sheriff Jeff Shaver said deputies made a traffic stop Monday at about 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of County Roads 101 and 390. One of the occupants of the vehicle was wanted on another charge.

After obtaining consent to search the vehicle, the county's K-9 officer found the "spice" and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Investigators arrested 31 year old  Reginald Jerome Sandridge,  and 25 year old Renardo Jerome Sandridge,  both of Gadsden; 31 year old Michael Anthony Sprayberry,  from Cedar Bluff and 32 year old Jennifer Davis Tierce, of Centre. The four were transported to the Cherokee County Detention Center and face charges of drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and second degree unlawful possession of marijuana.