Birmingham Criminal Defense Blog : Birmingham DUI & Criminal Defense Lawyer & Attorney : Eversole Law Firm : Criminal and DUI Defense : Serving Birmingham, Montgomery, Alabama

My years as an Alabama criminal defense attorney has given me the opportunity to represent a wide range of individuals accused of numerous criminal offenses. Birmingham, Bessemer and Tuscaloosa are just a few of the jurisdictions in which criminal trials are held on a daily basis. The following list illustrates the types of crimes that local police and prosecutors pursue on a regular basis. Many of these Huntsville crimes may be brought before local judges and magistrates for trial, deliberation as well as appeal.

North Precinct
A central heating and air conditioning unit was stolen from a home on Battle Road; while later a man was robbed of his cellphone and car keys along Blue Spring Road near Gala Drive. On Summerhill Drive, police responded to report of a theft from a parked car outside a home; a debit card with an undisclosed value, a cell phone, a digital camera and a credit card were all stolen.

South Precinct
Another vehicle was allegedly broken into at a home in the 600 block of Douglas Lane; the victim reported that 60 alprazolam tablets and 90 hydrocodone tablets were stolen from the vehicle. A similar burglary occurred on Drake Avenue, where a bag, digital camera, textbook and three prescription medications were stolen from a parked vehicle on the 200 block of that street.

A 1998 GMC Sierra and a 2004 Dodge Stratus were stolen by deception from an undisclosed location along Memorial Parkway; the complainant told police that the theft occurred between August 6 and 7 even though the crime was just recently being reported to police.

West Precinct
A 16-year-old boy was assaulted at a school on Holmes Avenue around noontime. Later that week police discovered five small bags of powdered cocaine and a small green pill during a traffic stop at I-565 in the early morning hours. Later that same week, Police investigated the theft of a 16-foot utility trailer, 12 used catalytic converters and an undetermined amount of scrap metal from an undisclosed location along Old Alabama 20.

Two vehicles, one at a home in the 6000 block of Rime Village Drive and another at a restaurant along Sanderson Street were burglarized several days apart. The first had its radio stolen, while the owner of the vehicle at the restaurant reported that a .40-caliber handgun had been taken.

Huntsville police blotter, AL.com, January 30, 2010

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As a Birmingham criminal defense attorney, I have seen a wide of criminal indictments for crimes ranging from drug manufacturing and computer fraud to assault and murder. If there is one thing I am certain of, that is every citizen’s right to a fair criminal trail and to be considered innocent until proven guilty.

Just last month, two men from Lauderdale County, AL, were charged with extorting money from individuals in northern Alabama. According to news articles, the two posed on numerous occasions as private investigators using their false personas as a way to get money from their alleged victims.

The two men are reportedly both from Florence, Alabama. According to reports, 44-year-old Mark Douglas Wilson and 47-year-old Gregory Jones Harrison were charged with second-degree extortion by law enforcement authorities -- this is a Class C felony and punishable by up to 10 years in prison following a conviction. The recent arrests came following allegations against the two and a subsequent probe by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation.

Officials at the ABI allege that Harrison and Wilson presented themselves as private investigators working under contract with the ABI to conduct investigations into criminal activities. The two men are accused of attempting to extort large sums of money from the various individuals they had targeted.

According to information provided by the ABI, the suspects apparently explained to the victims that their names were included on a list of persons involved in criminal activity and that they would be arrested in an upcoming roundup by law enforcement. The extortion came in the form of promises to remove those person’s names from the fictitious list in exchange for certain payments.

Investigation into the alleged extortion arrangement commenced after the ABI was contacted by a local businessman who said he had been approached by Harrison and Wilson. The investigation reportedly lasted a little more than one week. Following the arrest the two suspects were placed in the Lauderdale County Detention Center until they were released on bail of $1,000 each.

Two local men charged with extortion, TimesDaily.com, January 23, 2010

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Being an experienced Birmingham criminal defense attorney, I have the knowledge and skills to represent Alabama residents and other persons accused of committing crimes by the law enforcement agencies of this state. These criminal acts can include theft, larceny, assault, drug possession, criminal sexual behavior, murder and other crimes. As an Alabama criminal lawyer, I do believe that an individual is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. That’s something nobody can take away because it’s a Constitutional protection granted to everyone in the United States.

Recently, a Franklin County grand jury handed down a number of indictments for a variety of crimes. Many of these individuals will claim that they were unjustly accused. A trial will be held to determine the guilt or innocence of each person. Here is a selection of those indictments:

• Aaron Andrew Adams, 22, Vina -- third-degree robbery
• Sarah Marie Beasley, 25, Haleyville -- possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia
• Andrew Eric Bryant, 19, Haleyville -- seven counts of fraudulent use of a credit card
• Harold Clayton Bryant, 44, Russellville -- possession of drug paraphernalia and attempting to manufacture a controlled substance
• Richard Henry Fisher, 25, Red Bay -- second-degree attempting to manufacture a controlled substance, contributing to truancy and third-degree theft of property
• Tyler Blake Garrison, 18, Russellville -- four counts of third-degree burglary, three counts of second-degree theft of property and one count of attempted theft of property
• Guillermo Castro Gutierrez, 19, Russellville -- second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, first-degree identity theft and second-degree forgery
• Jason Anthony Hacker, 25, Vina -- third-degree burglary, third-degree criminal mischief, unlawful breaking and entering a motor vehicle and five counts of third-degree theft of property
• Donnell Lee Harris, 44, Sheffield -- third-degree burglary and second-degree theft of property
• Ryan Bonds Hester, 29, Phil Campbell -- possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of domestic violence third-degree assault
• Rafe Hollander, 23, Russellville -- violation of the community notification act as a sex offender
• Dana L. Johnson, 35, Haleyville -- possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia
• Anthony Wayne Lane, 28, Russellville -- second-degree receiving stolen property, third-degree assault, third-degree burglary and third-degree theft of property
• Hector Ortiz, 25, Fayette -- second-degree forgery, leaving the scene of an accident, public intoxication, resisting arrest and obstructing justice by giving false identification
• Carey Renea Peters, 32, Vina -- second-degree theft of property, violation of protective services, attempting to possess a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia
• Joseph Thomas Postell, 20, Harvest -- second-degree escape
• Cody James Simpson, 20, Florence -- first-degree theft of property and third-degree burglary
• Erskin L. Spearman, 33, Jasper -- public intoxication, second-degree possession of marijuana, carrying a pistol without a permit and certain persons prohibited from carrying a firearm
• Robert Duncan Strickland, 19, Red Bay -- possession of drug paraphernalia and contributing to truancy
• Tilena Ann Watson, 36, Red Bay -- second-degree manufacturing of a controlled substance
• Roger Lee West, 28, Mount Hope -- second-degree forgery
• David Leeander Whitman, 30, Phil Campbell -- first-degree theft of property

Franklin County grand jury, TimesDaily.com, November 26, 2009

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Cullman County -- Police recently arrested a man for allegedly operating a meth lab at his home in Hanceville, AL. Billy Floyd Norris apparently called police to report some stolen property. When officers arrived, the 33-year-old man told them that that his roommates had robbed him. Police could not verify that a robbery had occurred, however they did discover traces of drugs on the premises, as well as evidence of an active methamphetamine lab. The Cullman Narcotics Enforcement Team took samples to positively identify the seized chemicals and drugs. Norris was charged with manufacturing and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. He was incarcerated at the Cullman County Detention Center on $1 million bond.

Franklin County -- A Russellville woman has been accused of raping a 13-year-old boy, according to authorities. Ashley Turner, 24, was indicted by a grand jury in May for allegedly having an extended sexual relationship with the boy at his home during 2008. The boy’s parents reportedly did not find out until after the relationship had been ongoing for some time. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office said Turner and the boy are friends and that the boy consented to the sexual relationship. Legally the boy is too young to consent -- therefore a charge of second-degree rape has been lodged against Turner. This is a Class B felony that carries a prison sentence of two to 20 years.

Madison County -- A resident of Harvest, Alabama, was arrested recently for attempting to pass a counterfeit $100 bill at a Madison McDonald's restaurant. According to reports, police arrested James Michael Cook on June 8 after an employee reported the incident to police. A preliminary investigation led authorities to find $6,200 in counterfeit $100s in Cook's possession. In a subsequent search, Madison police and the U.S. Secret Service located and seized an additional $9,700 in counterfeit $100 bills. Cook has been charged with first-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and is being held in the Madison County jail on $20,000 bond.

Mobile County -- Authorities say that Stanley "Red" Harris was charged June 12 with capital murder in the death of 41-year-old Karen Tillman, who was shot to death during a robbery in Grand Bay. The Mobile County sheriff's office said it was unclear what type of relationship Harris had with Tillman or why the two were traveling together when the shooting occurred during the evening of June 11. According to reports, Tillman got out of the vehicle and was picked up by a passer-by who drove her to a nearby home. Deputies called to the scene of the shooting said that the victim named Harris as her attacker before she died. Harris was arrested at his grandmother's house in Irvington and is currently being held in the Mobile County Metro Jail without bail.

Man reports robbery, police find working meth lab, TheNewsCourier.com, June 15, 2009

Metro Breifs, AL.com, June 13, 2009
 

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Cherokee County police arrested two men in Leesburg on drug possession and drug trafficking charges last Thursday as authorities announced that they had intercepted a large quantity of what investigators referred to as an “unusual drugs.” The bust occurred during a routine traffic stop on April 23 and resulted in the confiscation of more than 100 candy-shaped ecstasy pills and a large amount of cash.

Sheriff’s deputies and agents belonging to the Cherokee County Narcotics Unit arrested Jason Charles Orr, 28, and a second, as yet unidentified man. Police found 104 individual pills, valued at $30 a piece and over $7,000 in cash during their search of the vehicle in which Orr, a Gadsden resident, and the other suspect were riding.

As a Birmingham Criminal Defense Lawyer, I have first-hand experience with drug crime cases such as this. Even though drug possession is the least serious narcotics crime, it is defined by Alabama state law as a Class C felony, the punishment for which is typically one to ten years in state prison. The consequences of drug trafficking, as it appears in this situation, are even more serious. If you or someone you know has been arrested on drug-related charges, you need the type of aggressive defense that Eversole Law provides all our clients.

This case has an added twist, as the drugs seemed to be made specifically for sale to teens and perhaps even younger children. Narcotics officers described the drugs as looking like candy, with a variety of colors and molded into shapes of cartoon characters from TV shows like The Simpsons and Smurfs. Sheriff Jeff Shaver of Cherokee County said that authorities believed the “disguised” drugs were targeted at young people, adding that the ecstasy drug is a dangerous compound for adults to take, much less for children and teens.

Suggesting that there could be more of the same drugs waiting to be brought back into the county, investigators believe the problem could be much larger. Pills of this sort could be mistaken for children’s vitamins and could be harmful or even fatal if inadvertently given to a small child.

Afternoon News Update, MyFoxAL.com, April 24, 2009

Ecstasy pills look like candy, MyFoxOrlando.com, April 24, 2009

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As an Alabama criminal defense lawyer and attorney I have devoted my life to defending those accused of crimes.  I routinely represent clients in Birmingham and throughout the state of Alabama in Alabama DUI charges, Alabama Theft Charges, Alabama Drug Charges and crimes, Alabama and Federal Criminal Appeals, Sex Crimes including rape and sexual assault, as well as Alabama traffic and speeding tickets. 

I will defend your Constitutional Rights no matter the charge and no matter the circumstances.  Just because someone has been accused of an Alabama DUI or Drug Crime does not mean they are guilty.  Criminal charges are often obtained against innocent people or people who the state cannot convict.  You will increase your likelihood of a successful resolution to your situation by immediately contacting an attorney or lawyer who focuses his practice on Alabama criminal and DUI defense.  The very nature of a criminal conviction means that all criminal charges are serious charges and deserve serious attention.  Even a single DUI conviction for example can land you in jail, promises significant fines in the thousands, loss of drivers license, you could possibly lose your job, your security clearance at work, or maybe not even get a job because of the background checks that many companies are performing these days.  Your car insurance will surely sky rocket and you could lose your neighbors respect.  Likewise, just one conviction for possession of a controlled substance requires a minimum one year jail sentence. 

The state and the Alabama prosecutors must present evidence in court that would allow a jury of your peers to find you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  My job as an Alabama criminal defense lawyer and attorney is to make sure the jury has that kind of doubt.  Beyond a reasonable doubt is a high standard to leap and a good Alabama DUI and criminal defense attorney can accomplish wonders.  In fact, in many instances, especially in DUI and Drug charges, it is possible to have these cases dismissed or reduced prior to any trial.  If you have been charged with a crime in Alabama, and you cannot afford to lose, call the Alabama criminal defense lawyers and attorneys at Eversole Law today.  My contact information listed on this site rings my personal cell phone directly.  I will answer your call and handle your case from beginning to end. 

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I practice Alabama criminal and DUI defense in the following counties and municipalities: 

In the Birmingham, Alabama Metro area the lawyers and attorneys of Eversole Law routinely defend Alabama criminal and DUI cases in the following courts:

Jefferson County Circuit Court, Jefferson County District Court, Adamsville Municipal Court, Argo Municipal Court, Birmingham Municipal Court, Bessemer Municipal Court, Branchville Municipal Court, Fairfield Municipal Court, Fultondale Municipal Court, Gardendale Municipal Court, Homewood Municipal Court, Hoover Municipal Court, Hueytown Municipal Court, Irondale Municipal Court, Kimberly Municipal Court, Leeds Municipal Court, Morris Municipal Court, Mountain Brook Municipal Court, Odenville Municipal Court, Pleasant Grove Municipal Court, Springville Municipal Court, Trussville Municipal Court, Vestavia Municipal Court, Warrior Municipal Court

In the Shelby County, Alabama area the lawyers and attorneys of Eversole Law routinely defend Alabama DUI and criminal cases in the following courts:

Shelby County Circuit Court, Shelby County District Court, Alabaster Municipal Court, Calera Municipal Court, Columbiana Municipal Court, Harpersville Municipal Court, Helena Municipal Court, Hoover Municipal Court, Pelham Municipal Court, Vincent Municipal Court

Other areas of Alabama the lawyers and attorneys of Eversole Law routinely defend DUI cases include:

Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court, Tuscaloosa County District Court, Tuscaloosa Municipal Court, Northport Municipal Court, Chilton County Circuit Court, Chilton County District Court, Jemison Municipal Court, Thorsby Municipal Court, Blount County Circuit Court, Blount County District Court, Blountsville Municipal Court, Altoona Municipal Court, Talladega County Circuit Court, Talladega District Court, Talladega Municipal Court, Lincoln Municipal Court, Sylacauga Municipal Court, Childersburg Municipal Court, Tallapoosa County Circuit Court, Tallapoosa County District Court, Alex City Municipal Court, Dadeville Municipal Court, Lee County Circuit Court, Lee County District Court, Auburn Municipal Court, Opelika Municipal Court, Montgomery County Circuit Court, Montgomery County District Court, Montgomery Municipal Court, Prattville Municipal Court, Elmore County Circuit Court, Elmore County District Court, Wetumpka Municipal Court, Millbrook Municipal Court, Bibb County Circuit Court, Bibb County District Court, Cullman County Circuit Court, Cullman County District Court, Cullman Municipal Court, Hanceville Municipal Court, Madison County Circuit Court, Madison County District Court, Huntsville Municipal Court, Madison Municipal Court, Etowah County Circuit Court, Etowah County District Court, Gadsden Municipal Court, Calhoun County Circuit Court, Calhoun County District Court, Anniston Municipal Court, Oxford Municipal Court, Jacksonville Municipal Court, Orange Beach Municipal Court, Gulf Shores Municipal Court, Loxley Municipal Court, Foley Municipal Court, Crenshaw County Circuit Court, Crenshaw County District Court, Escambia County District Court, St. Clair County Circuit Court, St. Clair County District Court, Pell City Municipal Court, Walker County Circuit Court, Walker County District Court, Jasper Municipal Court, Hollywood Municipal Court, Morgan County Circuit Court, Morgan County District Court, Decatur Municipal Court

THIS LIST IN NON-EXHAUSTIVE. WE DEFEND DUI & CRIMINAL CASES IN ANY COURT IN THIS STATE.

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Many counties and municipalities in Alabama offer drug offenders some type of deferred prosecution or drug court for drug possession and use charges.  Drug court is a tedious process that usually involves anywhere from six to nine months with constant court supervision.  An Alabama drug court will require frequent and random drug testing.  Any failure in regards to testing is normally harshly penalized.  If you are not sure you can stay off drugs and alcohol during the entire length of the program, drug court may not be for you.  Failing to take a drug test when required, failing an administered drug test, or receiving additional charges can lead to more jail time and fines.  It may also have you thrown out of drug court and your charges being brought again in an unhappy and unfriendly criminal court.  Drug court is advisable in many cases because upon completion of the program your charges are dismissed and your permanent record will not be jeopardized.  An Alabama drug court can also be a very expensive proposition.  Fines range in the thousands. 

Needless to say, anyone charged with a drug crime in Alabama needs an experienced Alabama criminal defense and drug charge lawyer and attorney.  An experienced Alabama drug possession or possession of controlled substance lawyer can navigate the tricky waters of Alabama drug court proceedings.  An experienced Alabama drug lawyer and attorney will be able to make sure you are a good candidate for drug court and make sure you have no other means to challenge your Alabama drug charge.  No one should automatically enter an Alabama drug court or other deferred prosecution program without first consulting an experienced Alabama criminal defense lawyer and attorney.  Drug courts are often available for those charges with possession of marijuana or unlawful possession of controlled substances, even if it is not your first offense.  However, there may be ways to challenge the search and seizure of the drugs or have the case dismissed because of some other police misconduct.  The moral of the story is simple, do not blindly plead guilty to an Alabama drug charge of any kind.  Prosecutors are not your friend and they want a quick and easy resolution.  Do not give it to them.  Make them prove you are guilty in a court of law, or at least, make sure your attorney thinks that it is in your best interest to enter an Alabama deferred prosecution program or similar drug court after viewing all the evidence and circumstances of your charge.  It is quite possible to have Alabama drug charges dismissed without a trial and without pleading guilty. 

Call the Alabama criminal defense and drug charge attorneys and lawyers of Eversole Law today.  We make sure the police have a solid case before we advise a drug court type plea deal.  I am an aggressive Alabama criminal defense attorney and I an not afraid of a trial.  Unfortunately, there are way too many Alabama lawyers who are afraid of trial.  A criminal defense attorney afraid of trial is like a hammer without a nail, does little good and is often only successful in smashing things. 

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