Three arrested in Jacksonville Vehicle Burglaries

Three people suspected of breaking into more than five vehicles in Jacksonville Tuesday night were in jail by Wednesday morning..  37 year old Jennifer Orr, 19 year old Jacob Lee Bowman,  and 19 year old Richard Allen Shockley,  were all arrested on three separate felony charges of unlawful breaking and entering vehicles.  Tuesday evening Jacksonville police received reports that belongings were missing from several vehicles on the southwest side of Jacksonville near the high school. According to police, the suspects had taken items from unlocked vehicles and there were no reports of vehicle damage.  Calhoun county sherrifs deputies assisted in the arrest of the three suspects.  Sheriff Larry Amerson said a  victim began chasing the men as a white SUV, driven by Orr, drove onto his property. The sheriff said that the victim recognized Orr and also saw some of his belongings in her vehicle.  The victim fired a pistol twice in the air and the suspects left his residence. The sound of the pistol attracted nearby Jacksonville police officers who had been interviewing other victims, and the victim gave police a description of the vehicle.  Police stopped the SUV on Alexandria-Jacksonville Road and deputies with the Sheriff’s Office located the two male suspects at nearby residences.

Former Clay County Jail Admistrator indicted by Federal Grand Jury

A former Clay County jail administrator has been indicted for violating the civil rights of four male inmates by sexually abusing them or depriving them of their rights in other ways.  A federal grand jury indicted 48 year old Jeffery Scott Cotney, of Ashland, on eight counts of deprivation of rights under color of law.  The incidents happened between May 2009 and spring of 2010 while Cotney was an administrator at the Clay County jail. According to U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance The charges involve four different male inmates at the Clay County Detention Center.  Four of the counts accuse Cotney of coercing an inmate to submit to a sexual act on four different days between May 2009 and September 2009. A fifth count involves the same inmate.  Authorities say Cotney deprived the inmate of his liberty by withdrawing his application to be accepted into a community corrections program in Barbour County. The indictment says Cotney "falsely represented the inmate's interest" in the program and withdrew the application without the inmate's knowledge so he wouldn't leave the Clay County facility. Two counts allege that Cotney asked two other inmates, at two separate times, to take off their clothes, and then he rubbed the tattoos on their body.  In another count, Cotney is charged with ordering an inmate into lockdown for 45 days after falsely accusing him of having contraband, then transferring him into a state prison because the inmate rejected Cotney's sexual proposition.  Clay County Sheriff, Ray Latham, fired Cotney on the day he first assumed office in January 2011.  Latham said the allegations did not just stem from the inmates but also from jail personnel.  The FBI and ABI investigated the case. If he is convicted, Cotney could face up to eight years in prison on each of the counts he faces.

Christmas at the Falls opens today

After record attendance last year, the Gadsden Parks and Recreation Department will open Christmas at the Falls this evening at 5.  The multimedia holiday light show at Noccalula falls part will run nightly thru December 22^nd.  Officials say new lights have been added throughout the park this year, and some displays have been changed. The city spends about $20,000 each year on new features and lights, plus some lights have to be replaced.Another new feature this year will be a music light show to the classic hymn “Amazing Grace.”  Santa Claus will be in the Santa House in the Pioneer Village, and free pictures can be taken.  Letters to Santa can be written and mailed in the old post office.

New Hospice seeks to establish facility in Anniston

A Pell City hospice provider has announced plans to open a 10-bed facility in Anniston next year to provide care for terminally ill patients in the area.  Lakeside Hospice, a 22-year-old nonprofit, faith-based care center, plans to open the new inpatient care facility on 10th Street, on the third floor of the Woodstock Professional Building, across from Regional Medical Center.  Lakeside has already applied for a certificate of need from the State Health Planning and Development Agency to open the facility, valued at approximately $1.5 million. Under state law, a hospital, hospice center or other medical facility must obtain a certificate of need from the agency if it intends to expand or build a new facility that surpasses certain cost thresholds or if it plans to offer a new medical service. The agency is scheduled to review Lakeside's certificate of need request in February. If approved, the new facility will open six months later.

Suspect arrested in Talladega Robberies

A 25 year old Ragland man has been charged in Talladega county with two counts of armed robbery, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, with other charges expected in coming days.  Talladega police say William Brownlow Jr.,  is accused of robbing the Shoe Show in the old Food World Shopping Center Tuesday afternoon, then robbing the Candy Corner on Fort Lashley Ave. Tuesday night. The latter robbery was caught on video tape.  In both cases, Brownlow allegedly pointed a gun at the cashier and demanded the cash from the register. He fled on foot from both crime scenes, Busby said.  An image from the Candy Corner videotape was posted on social media sites and was picked up by several private citizens and other law enforcement agencies. Police say tips from people who saw the images lead to Brownlow being located while walking along Alabama 77 Wednesday afternoon.

Teacher fired in Cleburne County

The Cleburne County Board of Education fired Cleburne County High School teacher Bronson Ward at a called meeting Thursday evening.  Ward, had been arrested on Sept. 27 on charges that he had sex with a student who was under the age of 19. Four of the charges were related to incidents alleged to have happened in Calhoun County where Ward lives and one of the charges was related to incidents alleged in Cleburne County. The warrants list two victims.  Ward has been in Cleburne County Jail since his arrest. His trial has not yet been scheduled.  The board went into executive session for just a few minutes and returned to open session just long enough to vote to end Ward’s employment.