Dothan Man Arrested for Involvement in Multiple Burglaries
Derrick Timothy Lampley, 51, of North Oates Street, has been arrested and charged with burglarizing multiple businesses near downtown Dothan, including two law offices. A police report shows that investigators arrested Lampley on December 20, 2013 and charged him with eight felony counts of third-degree burglary and 17 felony counts of fraudulent use of a credit card. He was taken into custody at Houston Country Jail where he is being held on bail totaling over $2.4 million.
A police investigation revealed that Lampley burglarized several businesses in Dothan between December 3, 2013 and December 18, 2013. It is also alleged that Lampley used a debit/credit card stolen in one of the robberies to make multiple withdrawals of money from a local ATM machine on Dec. 17th.
Court records show that Derrick Lampley has been charged with burglarizing the law office of Johnston, Hinesley and Flowers on North Oates Street, the Ramsey, Baxley and McDougle Law Firm on Troy Street, and the Ray Hix Dental Office on West Troy Street. He has also been charged for twice burglarizing the Davis-Dyar Supply Company earlier this month.
Lampley has several prior felony convictions for similar offenses, along with a couple drug-related priors.
- Published in Criminal Law
Man Receives Only Probation for Drug Trafficking Conviction
Darren Lee Brooker, 47, received five years’ probation from Circuit Judge Michael Conaway for a drug trafficking conviction. The sentence is being referred to as a “reverse-split”, with Brooker serving the five years’ probation before a 5 year prison sentence. However, the prison term could be suspended if Brooker “does well” while on probation.
Investigators originally arrested Darren Brooker and his father, Lee Carroll Brooker, in July of 2011 and charged them with marijuana trafficking. A Houston County jury found Darren Brooker guilty of marijuana trafficking, a class A felony crime, in October. The charges have a sentencing range of 10 to 99 years, or life in prison.
The drug trafficking charge against Lee Carroll Brooker, 74, remains pending.
An investigation by the Houston County Sherriff’s department and Dothan police led to the discovery of a growing drug operation at a residence in the 3700 block of State Line Road in Cottonwood, AL. According to Houston County Sheriff’s Captain, Antonio Gonzalez, 42 marijuana plants were seized from the property which had an estimated street value of over $92,000. The plants were found behind the house in a wooded area.
District Attorney Doug Valeska argued against any sentence involving probation and instead requested a 20-year prison sentence. “There were lights and plants all over the place,” Valeska said. “Trafficking doesn’t have to be selling. It’s trafficking, and it’s the ultimate drug case we have.”
- Published in Criminal Law
Georgia Man Sentenced for Attempted ATM Theft
Circuit Judge Michael Conaway has sentenced Devin Rashad Terry, 33, to a 46 month prison sentence for several felony charges in connection to his attempted theft of an ATM machine at a local Regions Bank branch in Dothan. He will serve his prison term within the Houston County Community Corrections program for two felony counts of first-degree theft of property and one count of felony attempted first-degree theft of property. According to the bank branch manager where the attempted theft took place, the offense cost the bank nearly $50,000 after the ATM machine was left inoperable and destroyed.
Terry’s attorney requested that the court sentence his client by using the sentencing guidelines and claimed that Terry had never been in trouble with the law before. However, Judge Conaway was quick to point out that Terry had failed a drug test at a previous court hearing.
Court records show that Shayla Thomapson, 34, pleaded guilty in October to her involvement in the theft and received a 72 month prison sentence. The first-degree theft charges that she and Devin Terry pleaded guilty to involve the theft of a fork lift and a Dodge Ram truck. Also charged in this case were Nathan Thomas and Demontra Flood, of Atlanta. Their criminal charges remain pending.
These four individuals were arrested by Dothan police in January shortly after the incidence occurred.
- Published in Criminal Law
Police Make Arrest in Dothan Armed Robbery Case
The Dothan Police Department has arrested and charged William LeVander Hunt following a recent investigation into an armed robbery that occurred at a local Hobo Pantry convenience store on December 8, 2013. Hunt was taken to the Houston County Jail where he is being held on $250,000 bail. If convicted of the felony A first-degree robbery charge, he will face 10 to 99 years or life in prison.
The incident took place on Sunday December 8th when a man entered the store on North Oates Street and began concealing merchandise inside his jacket around 11:45 p.m. When confronted by an employee, the man pulled a knife out, and then fled the scene prior to law enforcement arriving. The same suspect returned to the store at around 11:30 p.m. the following day and was immediately recognized by an employee. Dothan Police responded after the store clerk called 911 and the suspect was taken into custody. Investigators have since been able to identify the suspect as William Hunt.
Police records show that Hunt, 44, had previously been charged with felony second-degree robbery, but the charge was later dismissed. He has also twice been convicted on felony drug charges of cocaine possession.
- Published in Criminal Law
Dothan Woman Charged with Felony Theft
Rena Hill Parsons has been arrested and charged with felony first-degree theft of property according to Dothan Police lieutenant Will Benny. Parsons, who was out on bail for chemical endangerment of a child, is now facing criminal charges that she stole over $10,000 worth of silver dinnerware from her parents. She was arrested on November 22nd and taken to the Houston County Jail where she was held on $50,000 bail.
Police investigators arrested Parsons on November 21st after her infant child tested positive for benzodiazepine and amphetamines at child birth. Assistant District Attorney Patrick Amason accused Parsons of taking specific medications that she was ordered not to take by medical staff and also claimed that Parson was “dangerous to herself and others because of a serious drug problem”.
Rena Parsons, 24, faces up to 20 years in prison if she is convicted of the class B felony of first-degree theft of property. She would face up to 10 years in prison if she is found guilty of chemical endangerment of a child, which is a class C felony drug crime.
Records show that District Judge Benjamin Lewis ordered Parsons not to leave the state of Alabama or Houston County without the court’s permission. She is currently being electronically monitored at her own expense.
- Published in Criminal Law
Airport Fire Chief Arrested for DUI
Charles Keith Middlebrooks, the Dothan Regional airport fire chief, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence on Saturday November 9th. A copy of the citation shows that Middlebrooks was arrested shortly after he was involved in a one car accident that evening.
The Alabama State Trooper who issued the citation alleges that Middlebrooks “did drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol”. The violation took place on Henry County Road 55 near the intersection of County Road 8. It is not believed that Middlebrooks sustained serious injuries when his pickup truck crashed.
Airport Director Art Morris says that Middlebrooks has a temporary driver’s license until his court date which allows him to continue to operate airport equipment. According to airport policy, if Middlebrooks had been convicted and his license suspended, he would not be allowed to operate the equipment until his license was no longer suspended. Morris believes that even though Middlebrooks made “an error in judgment,” that he is a long term and loyal employee who is “not a drunk.”
Records show that Middlebrooks has been employed at Dothan Regional Airport since 1979 and has served as the fire chief since 1991.
Keith Middlebrooks, 53, is scheduled to appear in court on January 8, 2013.
- Published in DUI
Dothan Man Indicted in Scheme to Defraud Military Sub Contractor
Authorities have accused Stanley P. Phillips, 47, of fraudulently trying to steer $600,000 of a lucrative military contract to a business that could not fulfill the terms of the contract. Phillips is now facing seven counts of wire fraud for his role in the alleged scheme.
Prosecutors claim that Phillips worked as the construction/site manager for a military sub-contractor that was hired to build what is known as a Weak Acetic Recovery Facility at the Holston Army Ammunition Plan in Kingsport, TN. It is believed that Phillips used his position with the sub-contractor to fraudulently steer work on the project to a nursing registry business that he owned. Authorities allege that the main sub-contractor had no knowledge of Phillips’ affiliation with the other company, or the fact that the company was not equipped to perform the work.
If convicted, the maximum penalties for each criminal charge are twenty years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
Stanley P. Phillips’ trial has tentatively been scheduled for December 16, 2013 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
The investigation of this case was handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command. Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Bell is prosecuting the case.
- Published in Criminal Law
Convicted Drug Trafficker Faces New Charges
Dothan Police Sergeant Andy Martin announced on Tuesday that Julia Yvette Williams, 32, had been arrested and charged with felony trafficking of cocaine and felony unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Records show that police charged Williams with trafficking 44 grams of cocaine from her home late last week.
Police seized the drugs after investigators served a search warrant at Williams’ home on October 11th. The arrest was delayed over a month while an ongoing investigation was conducted into the supplier of the narcotics. Williams was released from jail after she posted bail totalling $75,000.
Julia Yvette Williams had previously been charged by Dothan police in 2004 on a similar cocaine trafficking charge. She pleaded guilty and received a 10 year prison sentence. Williams was also ordered to complete a substance abuse program within the state Department of Corrections.
- Published in Criminal Law
Arrests Made in Meth Trafficking Probe
Sherriff’s Captain Antonio Gonzalez reports that an ongoing meth trafficking investigation has resulted in the arrests of four people for allegedly trafficking methamphetamines. Houston County Sheriff’s investigators reportedly seized more than 5 ounces of methamphetamine after serving two search warrants on Friday November 1, 2013.
According to the police statement, one search warrant resulted in the arrest of Jimmy Earl Gentle II, 36, on charges of meth trafficking. Court records show that investigators confiscated 112 grams of meth during this search.
A second search warrant resulted in the arrest of Jeffery Mark Strivarius, 32, and Skylar William Cooper, 28, on meth trafficking charges. Records show that investigators seized over 41 grams of meth in this search that took place at a La Quinta Inn and Suites hotel room.
Investigators also charged Strivarius, of Columbus, Ga., and Cooper, of Seale, with felony unlawful possession of a controlled substance. They were taken to the Houston County Jail and held on bail totaling $1,015,000. Jimmy Earl Gentle II is currently being held at the Houston County Jail on $1 million bail.
Candace Hatcher, 37, became the fourth arrest of this investigation after she was charged with felony unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
The Houston County Sheriff’s Office led this investigation with assistance from the Dothan Police Department and agents with the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
- Published in Criminal Law
Dothan Man Charged for DUI on Tractor
Phillip David Messick, 24, of Dothan, faces multiple felony criminal charges after he allegedly drove a stolen tractor while under the influence of alcohol. Houston County Sheriff William Maddox said deputies arrested Messick and charged him with felony first-degree theft of property, three felony counts of first-degree criminal mischief, three misdemeanor counts of third-degree criminal mischief, misdemeanor resisting arrest, and driving under the influence. Messick currently remains in custody at the Henry County Jail on bail totaling $113,000.
Maddox reports that deputies responded to a complaint of someone driving a tractor recklessly in the areas of Henry County roads 99 and 45 near Headland. Police arrived at the scene to find Maddox driving the John Deere tractor down the middle of the road.
Court records show that Messick was charged with felony criminal mischief for allegedly causing more than $200,000 in damages to a sprayer tractor belonging to a Newville man. The second felony criminal mischief charge accuses Messick of causing $3,000 in damages to a church sign for the Wings of Deliverance Church in Henry County. The third felony criminal mischief offense alleges that Messick caused over $3,000 worth of damage to fencing and gates belonging to the Wiregrass Construction Company.
Sheriff Maddox also said that Messick allegedly ran over a city of Headland road sign while driving the tractor.
- Published in Criminal Law, DUI