1-14-16 News

1-14-16

Dekalb arrests

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office received a tip leading to the arrest of 19-year-old Donald William Thomason and 18-year-old Renae Wynn Kenyon. Both suspects are from Fort Payne.  Thomason and Kenyon were both charged with sodomy in the first degree. This investigation is still ongoing, but more victims and charges could be brought forward.  Sheriff Harris says “We would like to thank the Child Advocacy Center and DHR for their help with this case.”

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Gadsden man pleads guilty

A Gadsden man plead guilty to charges of sodomy and sexual abuse Monday from a case that happened over the course of two years.   31 year old Robert Dale Kitchens, was charged with two counts of sodomy in the first-degree and sexual abuse of a child under 12 years of age.

On Monday, Kitchens was sentenced to 30 years for each sodomy charge and 20 years for the sexual abuse charge.   In attempt to minimize trauma to the child and their family, a multidisciplinary team was formed. This team included law enforcement from the Gadsden PD, the Department of Human Resources, the James M. Barrie Center for Children, medical and mental health officials.  

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Gadsden home invasion plea

A Gadsden man pleaded guilty Wednesday to several charges related to a 2015 home invasion robbery.District Attorney Jody Willoughby said Seth Moore Williard, 38, was sentenced to 25 years in prison by Judge Allen Millican. Williard pleaded guilty to first degree robbery, first degree burglary and illegal possession of a credit card.  During the home invasion, which occurred in a home on Tabor Road in March 2015, the victim told police she was alone when two masked men forced open her screen door. One was armed with a shotgun and held her at gunpoint where she was forced to the floor and her hands and legs tied with tape.  The two robbers took the victim's cell phone, purse and television. The victim later received information from her credit card company that several attempts had been made to use her credit card at local convenience stores. Investigators from the Etowah County Sheriff's Department obtained video from the stores, and identified Seth Williard as holding the card.  Willoughby said Williard gave a detailed statement confessing to the crimes which he later recanted before his guilty plea.  The other person involved in the robbery has not been positively identified, but Willoughby said the investigation is still open.  "We fully expect that anyone else involved in this crime will be found and will be prosecuted," Willoughby said.

1-14-16

Oxford man sentenced in murder

An Oxford man will likely spend just more than a year behind bars for his part in a 2011 shooting death under a deal with prosecutors and credit for time served.

22 year old Donquavious Russell,  originally was charged with capital murder. He pleaded guilty in December to the lesser charge of felony murder after agreeing to testify in a co-defendant's trial for the 2011 shooting death of Barbara Exum, a Papa John’s assistant manager.

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Anniston councilwoman proposes changes to animal control ordinance

An Anniston councilwoman wants to move forward on a year-long pet project to improve the lives of the city’s four-legged friends.

City Councilwoman Millie Harris plans to introduce an overhaul of the city’s animal control ordinance during the council’s meeting Tuesday. City officials and some animal rights and control experts say the proposed updates could help animals and improve public safety and are similar to other city ordinances around the state.

1-14-16

Sylacauga appoints acting chief

  Newly promoted Sylacauga police Capt. Rondell Muse is acting chief of the Police Department while Chief Kelley Johnson attends the FBI Police Academy in Virginia.

Johnson promoted Muse to captain late last week from lieutenant. Muse is a 24-year law-enforcement veteran with 20 of those years with Sylacauga and four as a Talladega County sheriff’s deputy.

Muse said he was completely taken by surprise by the promotion, and then by his appointment as acting chief.

Muse will be acting chief while Johnson attends training with the FBI Academy for 10 weeks.

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Cherokee county arrest

Cherokee County authorities have arrested a Gaylesville man they say had not obeyed the state's sex offender notification act.

Sheriff Jeff Shaver said Michael Shane Moore, 39, was arrested Monday. Shaver said Moore's registered address was on County Road 120 in Gaylesville. However, investigators learned he was staying at another address he had not reported.

Convicted sex offenders are required by law to notify the sheriff's office when they move, change addresses or begin staying at another location.

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Trial date set in st. clair murder

St. Clair County Circuit Judge Phillip Seay set the criminal trial date for Jennifer Battles, who is accused of strangling her roommate to death in 2013.

Battles is charged with killing 47 year oldLiana Stanghellini, of Steele. Seay set her trial date for 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 25 at the St. Clair County Courthouse in Ashville.

Stanghellini was beaten and strangled to death, and her body was placed in a plastic storage bin that was filled with lime and concrete.

Authorities found the bin on the front porch of the residence where both women had lived in Steele.

Authorities said a tip led to the discovery of Stanghellini’s body and Battles’ eventual arrest.

Battles has been held without bond in the St. Clair County Jail since her arrest in December 2013.