Latest news with #Aniah'sLaw
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Kay Ivey ceremonially signs Safe Alabama bill package
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Governor Kay Ivey ceremonially signed her 'Safe Alabama' bill package on Thursday. With her signature, Gov. Ivey banned Glock switches and expanded police immunity in the state. While law enforcement and leaders are excited, some people expressed concerns about one of the bills. One bill makes it a crime to possess machine gun conversion devices in the state. Another makes law enforcement immune from lawsuits unless they clearly violate someone's civil rights. Gov. Ivey said Alabama is the most pro-law enforcement state in the nation. 'I'm proud to be a part of it,' she said. 'Public safety is important. We've taken steps to make it easier for police and law enforcement to do their jobs and do it effectively.' Another bill expanded Aniah's Law, allowing judges to deny bail for more kinds of violent offenses. Hal Taylor, secretary of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, said these statutes will increase recruitment. 'If I do my job properly, and somebody doesn't agree with what happened, I could possibly be in jail? And now, they've got something to know, that somebody's there with them to back them if they do have a use-of-force case?' said Taylor. 'It's a gamechanger for us.' But, Rep. Curtis Travis (D-Tuscaloosa) said that protection for use-of-force cases could actually have consequences. Report: Helicopter pilot had 'do not fly' medication in his system at the time of fatal 2023 crash in Alabama 'Just hiring people, just because they say, 'I want to be a police officer,' I think that's the wrong attitude to take. You've got some people whose attitude and position will not follow what you will strive for as a proper law enforcement,' said Travis. 'You know?' House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter said the police immunity bill, and the package overall, will help retain more police officers. 'I think that one's positive,' he said. 'Both sides of the aisle had a chance to look at it, so I believe it's going to be positive for law enforcement officers across the state. We've had some issues in metropolitan areas where crime has spiked, at a point where it's hurt recruiting businesses and bringing industry into the state.' The bill expanding police immunity will take effect on October 1. Gov. Ivey said a safe Alabama is a secure future for Alabama. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Two Decatur men indicted for human trafficking after sting operation
Jun. 12—Two Decatur men who were initially charged with traveling to meet a child for sex and electronic solicitation and were released from jail after posting bond were arrested Tuesday and Wednesday and are now being held without bond after a grand jury also indicted them for first-degree human trafficking. Both men were arrested in a sting operation on April 26, 2024, after investigators with the Morgan County Sheriff's Office CID Unit attempted "to engage with individuals online who planned to engage in unlawful sex acts with children," according to an affidavit by Investigator Caleb Brooks. Daytron Shawntell Tolliver, 38, of North Street Southeast, contacted by phone and text an investigator posing as a 15-year-old, according to Brooks, and agreed to pay $40 for oral sex. The arrangement was for him to go to the fourth floor of Home2 Suites by Hilton on Island Way Northwest in Decatur. Tolliver drove there in his BMW 750Li and "entered the hotel and came to the 4th floor to meet the child with payment in hand," according to the affidavit. He was arrested without incident. Corey Dewayne Wynn Sr., 50, of Brookhaven Street Southwest, agreed to pay $50 for oral sex with a presumed 15-year-old, according to the affidavit, and also went to the fourth floor of Home 2 Suites "with payment in hand." The sting operation was conducted by the Morgan County Sheriff's Office, it said, in coordination with nonprofit Covenant Rescue Group, the Morgan County District Attorney's Office, U.S. Army Cyber Special Agents and the Limestone County Sheriff's Office. Electronic solicitation is a Class B felony, and traveling to meet a child for sex is a Class A felony. Tolliver was arrested April 26, 2024, and released two days later after posting a $250,000 bond. His case was bound over to a grand jury. Wynn was arrested April 26 and released the following day, also after posting a $250,000 bond. The grand jury indicted both on the same two counts, but added Class A felony first-degree human trafficking counts against both men. Under state law, one trigger for a human trafficking charge is if the defendant "knowingly gives, or attempts to give, monetary consideration or any other thing of value to engage in any sexual conduct with a minor or an individual he or she believes to be a minor." They are being held without bond under Aniah's Law. Aniah's Law allows defendants charged with certain offenses, including human trafficking, to be held without bond pending a hearing. A defendant can be held without bond until trial provided the prosecution demonstrates to the judge at the Aniah's Law hearing that "no condition or combination of conditions of release will reasonably ensure the defendant's appearance in court or protect the safety of the community or any person." Tolliver's Aniah's Law hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 1 p.m. Wynn's hearing had not been scheduled as of Wednesday afternoon. — eric@ or 256-340-2435
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
19-year-old charged with reckless murder in Binford Drive shooting, HPD confirms
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Court documents show that a 19-year-old has been charged in a shooting on Binford Drive in May. The Huntsville Police Department confirmed that Jamyah Pitts was arrested for reckless murder for her connection to the Binford Drive Shooting that occurred on May 30. 'The case is still under active investigation, and more charges could be forthcoming,' HPD said. Court records show that she was arrested on June 6. Huntsville Police responded to a report of a shooting in progress in the 200 block of Binford Drive around 4:30 a.m. The shooting left one person dead and another person injured. According to HPD, the second person received non-life-threatening injuries. The victim was identified as 21-year-old Tyrek Keshun Norris. During HPD's investigation, officers gathered evidence identifying Pitts in connection to the shooting. They also found that Pitts was still inside an apartment in the 200 block of Binford Drive, police told News 19. Pitts is currently being held in the Madison County Jail without bond, pending an Aniah's Law hearing on June 11. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man accused of shooting, killing family member in altercation, police say
LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — The Limestone County Sheriff's Office said a man is accused of shooting and killing a family member Friday. LCSO said around 7 p.m., deputies responded to a shooting incident in the 17000 block of Kelley Drive in Athens. Upon arrival, LCSO said deputies found the body of Todd Robert Jennett, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Also at the scene was Michael Stephen Esposito, 63, of Athens, Alabama. After securing the scene, investigators began a thorough investigation. Preliminary findings indicate that Jennett and Esposito, his stepfather, had been involved in a verbal altercation that escalated. During the dispute, Esposito reportedly produced a firearm and shot Jennett multiple times. Michael Esposito was taken into custody at the scene without incident and was transported to the Limestone County Jail. He is currently being held pending an Aniah's Law hearing, which will be scheduled at a later date. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Decatur police officers testify in court about DUI crash that killed 17-year-old
Jun. 4—At a preliminary hearing Tuesday, officers testified that a Decatur man charged with DUI and murder admitted to drinking and claimed he had a high tolerance after crashing into another vehicle at more than 80 miles per hour and killing the driver. Kevin Jay Penich, 35, sat beside his court-appointed attorney, Patrick Caver, in the courtroom of Morgan County District Judge Shelly Waters. He watched silently as Caver and the prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Courtney Schellack, questioned three Decatur police officers on the witness stand. Penich has been held without bond in the Morgan County Jail since his arrest on May 17 following an Aniah's Law hearing. According to an affidavit, he was detained after allegedly slamming his Toyota Camry into a Chevrolet Equinox driven by 17-year-old Chloe Hastings at Beltline Road and Westmead Drive Southwest. Hastings' vehicle burst into flames after the impact, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The families of both Penich and Hastings were present at the hearing. Officer Grant Jones was the first witness to testify. "By the time you get there, the suspect is detained in the back of the patrol car?," Schellack asked. "That's correct," Jones replied. Jones said he consulted with other officers who were present at the scene about conversations Penich had with them. "They said he was slurring his words, stumbling around, and smelled of alcohol and had glassy, bloodshot eyes," Jones said. Jones said he then spoke with Penich to get his side of the story and Penich admitted to being drunk and driving under the influence, telling him he had several beers and several shots. Schellack then asked how compliant Penich was through the arrest process and Jones said he became "overly aggressive." "He blew kissy faces through the bars of the patrol car and called me a b**** and asked if I was married or single," Jones said. Jones said he had executed a search warrant to test Penich's blood but said it could be months before the results are returned. In the affidavit, it said Penich refused to perform any field sobriety tests or a breath test. Chad Chapman was the second officer to take the stand and told Schellack that Hastings was traveling north on Beltline Road and Penich hit her vehicle in the rear and sent her in the southbound lane. "He was traveling at a high rate of speed and appeared to break slightly before impact," Chapman said. Chapman said video footage of the crash was obtained from a nearby business, though he did not name the location. He testified that Penich was traveling over 80 miles per hour at the time of impact and had reached approximately 111 miles per hour shortly before the crash, according to data from his vehicle's onboard computer. The speed limit on that section of Beltline Road is 45 miles per hour, according to Schellack. Schellack then questioned Chapman about where Penich had been drinking prior to the wreck. "He went to Alfonzo's (Pizza & Italian Restaurant) and had two beers and four shots," Chapman said. "Then he went to Logan's (Roadhouse) and had two beers and four shots, and finally to Buffalo Wild Wings, where he had two beers and four shots." Schellack noted that Penich had posted pictures of himself drinking at Alfonzo's on Facebook earlier that day. "He left Alfonzo's at 5 and left Logan's at 7 to head to Buffalo Wild Wings," Chapman said. The wreck occurred shortly after 9 p.m., according to Decatur police. Chapman said witnesses at the establishments confirmed Penich had been drinking there and that police used receipts to determine the number of drinks he consumed. The final officer to testify, Matt Young, said he interviewed Penich at the jail on May 19. "(Penich) said he had a high tolerance for drinking and probably had too much to drink," Young said, adding that the case remains under active investigation. Waters concluded the hearing by finding probable cause to bind the case over to a grand jury. She said Penich will remain in custody following the court's previous decision under Aniah's Law. — or 256-340-2442.
