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