Gadsden Police Chief awaits decision from civil service board

The city of Gadsden civil service board will convene at 5 Wednesday afternoon to decide if Gadsden Police Chief John Crane violated department guidelines involving contacts with a capital murder suspect.  During a disciplinary hearing held  Tuesday the chief said he began visiting Justin Denson in jail just after his January 2010 arrest saying he did so because Denson went to school with his son.  Denson was initially charged with murder in the December 2009 beating death of his mother, Nita Gay Denson.  Prosecutors say he beat her in the head with a  hammer while she slept and then went on a cross country spending spree with her debit cards and some cash.  A grand jury later upgraded the charges to capital murder.  District attorney Jimmie Harp and Deputy District attorney Marcus Reid testified  Tuesday that Cranes visits were a factor as they accepted a plea deal to regular murder.  Denson was sentenced to 119 years in prison and will be eligible for parole in 2025.  When asked if the board ordered him to stop his visits if he would comply, Chief Crane indicated his faith would dictate more visits.  The board is scheduled to render a decision Wednesday afternoon.