Dothan Officer Pleads Guilty to Having Sex with Student
Lanice Clifton Bonds, a Dothan police resource officer accused of having sexual relations with a 17 year old high school student, pleaded guilty to a charge of “School employee engaging in a sex act with a student under the age of 19” on Monday June 9th.
Bonds, 31, of Drexel Court, was arrested on September 24th of last year after Dothan City School officials forwarded a complaint to the Dothan Police Department alleging that an inappropriate relationship involving a high school student and a school resource officer had taken place. An internal affairs investigation was launched which led to a criminal probe by the Dothan Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division. Officers interviewed Bonds about the facts of the case where he confessed to his involvement in the incident. Bonds was later terminated from his position as the school resource officer at Dothan High School where he had been employed for six year.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 21, 2014 where Bonds faces between 2-20 years in prison.
If you or someone you know has been charged with a sex crime, it is important that you contact an experienced criminal attorney to handle your case. The attorneys of Boles Holmes White are experienced in a variety of legal matters and have a history of success in the courtroom. Call to schedule a consultation today.
- Published in Criminal Law
Dothan Man Arrested for Burglary and Domestic Violence
Anthony Jermaine Jackson, 35, was arrested by Dothan Police on June 3rd after officers responded to a burglary in the 500 block of East Selma Street. Upon arriving at the scene, police learned that Jackson had attempted to enter the home, which belonged to his ex-girlfriend, by breaking out one of the windows. After being confronted by an occupant of the residence, Jackson fled the scene prior to officers arriving.
Investigators say that Jackson and the victim were involved in a relationship that had recently ended. During the attempted entry into the home, Jackson also allegedly threatened to kill the victim.
Anthony Jackson was later spotted by officers several blocks from the homeand was taken into custody immediately after. He has been charged with second degree burglary and second degree domestic violence. Jackson is currently being held without bond.
Second-degree burglary and second-degree domestic violence are both Class B felonies in the state of Alabama and carry maximum sentences of 20 years in prison. For second and subsequent convictions for second-degree domestic violence, the defendant must serve at least six months in custody before being released on probation or parole, or receiving credit for good behavior.
If you or someone you know has been charged with domestic violence or robbery, it is important that you contact an experienced criminal attorney to handle your case. The attorneys of Boles Holmes White are experienced in a variety of legal matters and have a history of success in the courtroom. Call to schedule a consultation today.
- Published in Criminal Law
Bayliss Ruling Creates Questions
Since the Supreme Court of Alabama has reversed the holding in Bayliss,it has raised some issues that the Court will most likely have to address in the near future. The most obvious being how to deal with the fact that in Alabama the age of majority is 19. This age is more than is required for most any adult dealings. For instance, at 18 a male must register for the draft and both sexes are able to register to vote.
By the age of majority being 19 in Alabama, it obligates non-custodial parents to continue child support payments until then or the minor child becomes self-supporting. It raises the interesting question of: now that a noncustodial parent cannot be forced to pay post minority support, why would they have to continue to pay support to a custodial parent in a situation where the 18 year old child is enrolled and attending a university full time?
Child support is paid to the custodial parent, not the child, and is for the maintenance and support of that child. If the child is 18, graduated high school, attending college on a full time basis, and living away from home, why is there a need to pay the custodial parent? Currently there is no provision that would allow direct payment to the minor child in College so that the support may be used as needed by the 18 year old student. Also it must be considered that in most cases even without an order of post minority support most parents gladly assist in college expenses. That parent should not be obligated to pay child support once the 18 year old enters college full time and lives away from home. There are no assurances in place that the child would receive any benefit from that extra year of payments.
The fact is the Court probably can’t resolve this issue because the question only raises more issues. The best solution would be for the Alabama Legislature to reduce the age of majority in Alabama from 19 to 18 as is the case in many other states.
- Published in Divorce
Houston County Investigators Arrest Three for Child Solicitation
According to the Houston County Sheriff’s Department, three men have been arrested and charged with the solicitation of children online for unlawful sex acts as part of an ongoing investigation by local investigators. The most recent to be taken into custody was Douglas Scott Griffith, 38, of Pensacola Florida, who was charged with two felony counts of transmitting obscene material and one felony count of electronic solicitation of a child.
Investigator Aaron Kincaid reports that deputies with the Escambia County Sherrif’s Office served the warrants filed against Griffith and arrested him on Friday morning. Kincaid picked up Griffith on Monday afternoon to bring him back to the Houston County Jail.
Also arrested in this investigation was 24-year-old Trenton Isaac Driver. He was taken into custody last week and charged with two felony counts of transmitting obscene material and a single count of electronic solicitation of a child. Driver had recently graduated from Troy University with a degree in elementary education and just completed an internship at an elementary school in Covington County.
Kincaid reported that in both instances, the charges for transmitting obscene material alleged that the suspects sent naked pictures of themselves to someone who they believed to be a minor.
The first arrest in this undercover operation came on May 1, 2014 when Paul Leo Thaxton II, 40, was charged with felony traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act and felony electronic solicitation of a child.
Transmitting obscene material, electronic solicitation of a child, and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, are all Class B felonies in the state of Alabama and punishable by up to 20 years in prison. If you or someone you know is facing these charges and feel you are “not guilty”, it is important that you contact the Dothan attorneys at Boles Holmes White today.
- Published in Criminal Law
Healthcare Executive Arrested for Child Solicitation
Michael Lee Graue, a top healthcare executive in Atlanta, was arrested by police in Geneva County on charges of child solicitation on May 2, 2014. Officers apprehended Graue in Hartford late Friday night where police say he came to have sex with a 14-year-old girl that he met through an online dating website. Graue has since been terminated from his duties as the senior vice president of Tenant Healthcare.
The arrest occurred at a Hartford restaurant where Graue arranged to meet the 14-year-old girl. He has been charged with soliciting child sex through the use of a computer and traveling to meet an underage child for the purpose of engaging in an illegal sexual activity. Both of these charges are felonies and punishable by up to 20 years in prison under Alabama law. Police Chief Annie Ward says the investigation involving Graue remains open and more charges remain a possibility after his laptop was seized during the arrest.
According to a spokesperson at the Geneva County Jail, Graue has been released from custody after posting a bail of $200,000.
Michael Graue is the third person arrested as part of the Hartford Police Department’s investigation in coordination with the Perverted Justice Foundation. Hartford police also arrested Rex Allen Riley, 21, and Jake Devoy Lewis, 26, within the last eight weeks. Both men were charged with felony traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, electronic solicitation of a child, and felony transmitting obscene material.
- Published in Criminal Law
Dothan Police Make Arrest for Burglary
Jeremy Cordarel McKenzie, 27, of Melondy Lane, was arrested by the Dothan Police department on May 2nd after officers responded to a domestic disturbance in the 800 block of State Avenue.
Investigators say that McKenzie forced his way into a relative’s home after the victim refused to let him in. Once inside the home, McKenzie allegedly assaulted the family member and took several items before leaving the residence. Officers located McKenzie a short period later at another relative’s home where he was taken into custody and charged with felony first-degree burglary.
McKenzie was taken to the Houston County Jail where he is currently being held on $250,000 bail.
First-degree robbery is a Class A felony and is punishable by no less than 10 years and no more than life or 99 years in prison.
In the state of Alabama, a person commits the crime of robbery in the first degree if he violates Section 13A-8-43 and he:
– Is armed with a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument; or
– (2) Causes serious physical injury to another.
– (b) Possession then and there of an article used or fashioned in a manner to lead any person who is present reasonably to believe it to be a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, or any verbal or other representation by the defendant that he is then and there so armed, is prima facie evidence under subsection (a) of this section that he was so armed.
If you or someone you know has been charged with robbery, it is important that you contact an experienced criminal attorney to handle your case. The attorneys of Boles Holmes White are experienced in a variety of legal matters and have a history of success in the courtroom. Call to schedule a consultation today.
- Published in Criminal Law
The Ever Eroding 4th Amendment
In an opinion released by the U.S. Supreme Court on April 22, 2014, the Court furthered the erosion of the 4th Amendment. In Prado Navarette v. California, the Court essentially said that it’s “OK” to pull over a vehicle based upon an anonymous tip and little else. The Petitioner was pulled over after an anonymous 911 caller stated that Petitioner ran her off the road five minutes earlier and gave an accurate description of the truck, which was found driving roughly in the area reported. California Highway Patrol responded and followed the Petitioner’s vehicle for five minutes without any evidence of dangerous driving.
The Court stretched and stretched until it found the call was reliable, largely because it was a 911 call, based on a supposed eyewitness event. The Court surmised that the 911 call was recorded and would prevent false reports, although absolutely nothing was gleaned about the caller other that she was female. The Court then suggests that a vehicle running another off the road is an indication of drunk driving justifying a stop.
Only the minority lead by Justice Scalia got this one right. The dissent asserts correctly that this ruling will allow law enforcement to pull over a vehicle simply based upon an anonymous caller asserting an uncorroborated instance of alleged bad driving if they can give a description and location of the suspect vehicle. The majority ignores the fact that the call may be false or vindictive. It’s simply an allegation coupled with information anyone on that highway could have given.
This is simply a scary holding as anyone in traffic that has an axe to grind with another driver can call in an anonymous tip and have them pulled over. Even if the police know who the caller is, they may simply make a false allegation and the innocent driver will likely be the one having the consequence, police vs. driver or driver vs. driver.
- Published in Criminal Law, DUI
Two Men Charged in State Trooper Shooting
Police have officially charged two men with attempted murder after an Alabama Highway Patrol officer was wounded in a shootout on Saturday evening. Zachary Taylor Wood, 23, and Dillon Scott Rafsky, 21, are in custody at Geneva County jail after shooting State Trooper Lee Phillips during a routine traffic stop at around 5:30 p.m.
Authorities say Phillips pulled over a Toyota for a traffic violation when the vehicle suddenly came to an abrupt stop and a suspect opened fire on Phillips. One of the suspects was taken into custody while the other suspect fled into the woods before being captured a short time later. Trooper Phillips suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Flowers Hospital where he is in stable condition.
The two suspects were also taken to local hospitals where they were treated for gunshot wounds. The Alabama Bureau of Investigation is still investigating this matter.
The sentence for attempted murder, a class A felony, carries a range of 10 years to life in prison. In the state of Alabama, the charge of attempted murder requires the following to have taken place:
- The suspect(s) took at least one direct step toward killing someone else
- The suspect(s) intended to either kill the person or seriously harm them.
If you or someone you know has been charged with attempted murder, it is important that you contact an experienced criminal attorney to handle your case. The attorneys of Boles Holmes White are experienced in a variety of legal matters and have a history of success in the courtroom. Call to schedule a consultation today.
- Published in Criminal Law
Dothan Woman Charged with Robbery
The Dothan Police Department made a felony arrest after responding after responding to an assault complaint on April 8th at 900 Commons Drive. Officers arrived at the scene to find that a loss prevention employee at Belk’s department store had attempted to stop an unknown female who left the store with merchandise that had not been paid for. The store employee told investigators that the suspect hit her with a bag and then fled the scene in a silver passenger vehicle.
An alert officer spotted a vehicle fitting the description and pulled over Donna Lynn Simmons, 65, of Pinetree Drive. Simmons was arrested and taken into custody on third-degree robbery charges. A bond has been set at $15,000.
Third-degree robbery, also referred to as “Strong Arm Robbery”, is a Class “C” felony in the state of Alabama and is punishable by a minimum of one year in prison. This sentence can be expanded for repeat offenders.
A theft meeting either of the following conditions constitutes robbery in the third degree:
- Uses force against the person of the owner or any person present with intent to overcome his physical resistance or physical power of resistance; or
- Threatens the owner with imminent use of force with intent to compel compliance to the taking of or escaping with the property
If you or someone you know has been charged with robbery, it is important that you contact an experienced criminal attorney to handle your case. The attorneys of Boles Holmes White are experienced in a variety of legal matters and have a history of success in the courtroom. Schedule a consultation today.
- Published in Criminal Law
Headland Man Charged with Animal Cruelty
Jerry Michael Summers, 46, has been arrested and charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty after beating two puppies with a baseball bat. Summers was taken into custody over the weekend and is being held at the Henry County jail on $1,000 bail.
Deputies arrested Summers after his girlfriend reported the crime to the Henry County Sheriff’s Office last Thursday. Summers told the deputies that he believed the dogs to be coyote puppies and Henry County Sheriff William Maddox believes alcohol was likely involved. The two puppies had to be euthanized due to the injuries suffered during the incident.
Cruelty to animals is a Class A misdemeanor in the state of Alabama and on the first conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000) or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or both fine and imprisonment. Repeat offenses are punished in the following manner:
- Second conviction:
- A fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than three thousand dollars ($3,000) or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or both fine and imprisonment
- Third, or subsequent conviction:
- a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than three thousand dollars ($3,000) or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or both fine and imprisonment
Animal cruelty offenses can also be elevated to a felony crime if it involves torture and the death of the animal.
If you or someone you know has been charged with animal cruelty, or any other violent crime, it is important that you contact an experienced criminal attorney to handle your case. The attorneys of Boles Holmes White are experienced in a variety of legal matters and have a history of success in the courtroom. Call to schedule a consultation today.
- Published in Criminal Law