MONTGOMERY – Attorney General Luther Strange has joined an amicus brief, filed by the State of West Virginia and joined also by 19 other Attorneys General, to protect Second Amendment rights.
The brief was filed in the case of Kolbe v. O’Malley in opposition to a restrictive gun law passed by the State of Maryland in 2013. The Attorneys General are asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to reverse a decision by the U.S. District Court of Maryland, which had ruled in favor of the state’s ban on numerous guns.
“The State of Maryland has enacted a law that severely restricts the ability of anyone in that State to possess or transfer a number of commonly owned firearms,” the Attorneys General said in the amicus brief. “The ban includes some of the most widely owned rifles in the United States, including the AR-15. The law also bans the manufacture, sale, purchase, receipt or transfer of detachable magazines that hold more than 10 rounds—the standard magazines on most modern handguns.”
The Attorneys General assert that “the weapons banned by the Maryland law fall within the protection of the Second Amendment because they are typically possessed for lawful purposes, including the core protected purpose of self-defense.”
Attorney General Strange stated, “This brief is about protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens to bear arms in the defense of themselves and their families. I, and other Attorneys General, believe these fundamental rights deserve the highest protection and that Maryland’s gun ban is unconstitutional under principles the Supreme Court has already established.”
In addition to Alabama, the States joining West Virginia in the amicus brief are Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.

Ohatchee Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation

BIRMINGHAM – A federal judge has sentenced an Ohatchee man to 20 years in prison for receiving, possessing and distributing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
U.S. District Judge Abdul K. Kallon sentenced Kendall Adam Hester, 29, on the child pornography charges. A federal jury convicted Hester in August. He has remained in custody since his conviction. Judge Kallon ordered Hester to remain on supervised release for 20 years following completion of his prison term.
Hester searched the Internet and downloaded child pornography using peer-to-peer computer software, according to court records. In December 2012, law enforcement agents found 342 videos of child pornography on a computer and compact disks at Hester’s home. The videos showed graphic sexual acts involving children under age 12, some as young as 2 or 3 years old, and included sadistic sexual acts involving bondage, according court documents.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chinelo Dike-Minor and Daniel J. Fortune prosecuted.

On Thursday, July 19, 2012 around 11:30 p.m. at George Ward Park as Graylin Lewis rested before continuing his journey someone attempted to rob him.  Mr. Lewis called the police from his cell reporting the incident also stating he had been shot. Upon arrival they found him sitting in his truck. He was rushed to a local hospital where he underwent surgery and later died.
His family needs answers, as well as the police. Someone must take responsibility for his murder; to serve the reward of jail time. If you were in this area during this time and saw or heard something call Crimes Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
RITT publishes these and other stories to bring awareness to the unsolved homicides happening in our communities. This case happened in a local park where we carry our children for family outings.  Help us solve these cases, while sending a message to killers everywhere:  We Will No Longer Be Silent.  We say we want violence to stop but don’t talk; instead being silent only sends the message to all killers that it is okay to kill.  This is unacceptable – No More Silence!
If you have a case that needs to be highlighted, contact Minister Ward at e-mail: odussaplace@yahoo.com or call 205-240-9910.  Always remember killers travel everywhere and none of us are exempt; I know first hand because once one visited my community and took two sons and one was our beloved eldest son and another mother’s two sons four months apart. Turn In These Killers before they visit YOU.

Case championed by U.S. Attorney’s Office, HSUS, ASPCA exposes horrors, violence committed by dog fighters
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama has concluded sentencing for eight individuals arrested during the second largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history in August 2013. The case was led by the United States Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who requested assistance from the APCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) and The Humane Society of the United States in the removal, transport, sheltering, medical and daily care of the animals seized during the raid. Sentences ranged from six months to eight years – which is the longest prison term ever handed down in a federal dog fighting case.
Sentenced defendants:
•    Donnie Anderson, 50, of Auburn, Alabama, received an eight-year sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy, sponsoring dog fights, possessing a fighting dog and operating an illegal gambling business;
•    Demontt Allen, 38, of Houston, Texas, received five years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy and admitting participation in high-stakes dog fights;
•    Michael Martin, 56, of Auburn, Alabama, received a five-year sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy and being a felon in possession of firearms;
•    Irkis Forrest, 33, of Theodore, Alabama, received a three-year sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy;
•    William Antone Edwards, 43, of Brantley, Alabama, received one year and one day in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy;
•    Sandy Brown, 48, of Brownsville, Alabama, received six months in prison for sponsoring a dog fight;
•    Edward Duckworth, 39, of Decatur, Georgia, received 14 months in prison and two years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy; and
•    Jennifer McDonald, 36, of Collins, Mississippi, received two months in prison and two years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy.

U.S. District Judge Keith Watkins also ordered that after their release from prison, each defendant serve a two- or three-year term of supervised release. While on supervised release, the defendants are prohibited from possessing dogs. Further, a restitution hearing will be scheduled in the future where the defendants may be ordered to pay restitution to the ASPCA and The HSUS for the cost of caring for the seized dogs. Some defendants will be required to attend a drug program due to the large amounts of drugs involved with this case.
“These dogs lived in deplorable conditions that constituted extraordinary cruelty,” stated U.S. Attorney George L. Beck, Jr. “They were made to fight and if they lost, they were killed. In addition to the brutality experienced by the dogs, these events attracted drugs dealers and illegal gambling. It was not uncommon for large amounts of cash, often between twenty and two-hundred thousand dollars, to change hands. The prospect of huge profits made these fights even more popular and provided a venue for other criminal activity. I hope that these sentences demonstrate the seriousness of this crime and will deter others from committing these atrocities.”
Throughout the hearing, Judge Watkins commented on the extreme cruelty committed both due to dog fighting and the conditions in which these dogs were forced to live. Judge Watkins further reiterated that the federal sentencing guidelines for dog fighting are wholly inadequate to address the seriousness of the crime. He estimated that the defendants had injured or killed between 420 to 640 dogs in the course of this dog fighting operation. Also noted was the amount of drugs, weapons and violence intertwined with dog fighting.
“This is truly a landmark case for the animal welfare community,” said Tim Rickey, vice president of ASPCA Field Investigations and Response, who testified at the hearings. “We hope this case serves as a precedent for future dog fighting cases and sends a message to dog fighters everywhere that this crime will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We are grateful to Assistant U.S. Attorney Clark Morris of the Office of U.S. Attorney George L. Beck for her determination in seeking justice for the hundreds of dogs tortured at the hands of their owners.”
“Through his closing statements and the sentences he has handed down, U.S. District Judge Keith Watkins is making a strong statement,” said Chris Schindler, manager of animal fighting investigations for The HSUS, who also testified at the hearings. “The Humane Society of the United States wants to echo that statement loud and clear: dog fighting is a serious crime, it will not be tolerated, and there will be consequences if you chose to partake. We are proud to have been involved in this case from the start, and we owe our immense gratitude to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and the Auburn Police Department for their unwavering dedication to seeing justice served for more than 400 innocent dogs.”
On Aug. 23, 2013, The HSUS and ASPCA assisted the United States Attorney’s Office and FBI in seizing hundreds of dogs in Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia. Federal and local officials also seized firearms and drugs, as well as more than $500,000 in cash from dog fighting gambling activities. The ASPCA and The HSUS assisted authorities with collecting forensic evidence and testified to the gruesome cruelty committed. Many of the dogs seized during this case have finally moved on to the second chapters of their lives and were placed with various rescue groups across the country to be made available for adoption.
The case was investigated by the Auburn Police Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the following agencies: Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board; Coffee County Sheriff’s Office; Alabama State Troopers; Lee County District Attorney’s Office; Alabama Department of Public Safety; Bainbridge; Georgia Department of Public Safety; Georgia Bureau of Investigation; Echols County Sheriff’s Office; United States Marshals Service; Lee County Sheriff’s Office; Houston County Sheriff’s Office; Opelika Police Department; Georgia Highway Patrol; Georgia Bureau of Investigation; Mississippi Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration in Pensacola, Fla. and Columbus, Ga.; and Taylor Crossing Animal Hospital. Assistant United States Attorney Clark Morris prosecuted the case.
Dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Earlier this year, the Farm Bill was signed by President Obama, making it a federal offense to attend an organized animal fight and imposing additional penalties for bringing a minor to a fight. The HSUS and ASPCA advocate strengthening federal and state animal fighting statutes, and regularly assist local, state and federal authorities on dog fighting investigations and raids across the country.

Red Diamond announces Top 10 winners for Bonus Bucks

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –The Regions Tradition has announced that the Birdies for Charity fundraising program raised more than $315,000 in 2014 for local charities. The major championship, which was held at Shoal Creek, recruited more than 65 charities that participated throughout the state.
The primary goal of participating organizations through the Birdies for Charity program is to successfully solicit and collect pledges of $.05 or more from the general public and corporate donors based on the number of birdies made by the Champions Tour players during tournament week. Flat donations of $20 or more were also accepted by participating charities. Administrative and promotional costs for the program are covered entirely by the Regions Tradition.
Another exciting aspect to the Birdies for Charity program is the Red Diamond “Bonus Bucks” competition. Additional funds are given to the top 10 charities raising the most money. First place receives a 100 percent match of $10,000, second place receives a 100 percent match of $7,500, third place receives a 100 percent match of $5,000 and fourth place receives a 100 percent match of $2,500. Fifth, sixth, seventh and eight places receive an additional $1,000 and ninth and tenth places receive $500 each.
Red Diamond recognized the top 10 charities from the “Bonus Bucks” competition at their company headquarters in Birmingham.
The Vestavia Hills Athletic Association once again raised the most money by soliciting more than $80,000 in pledges and donations. With the additional “Bonus Bucks,” the organization will receive more than $90,000 through the Birdies for Charity program. The Vestavia Hills Athletic Association has been the top fundraising organization each year since the Regions Tradition came to Shoal Creek in 2011.
Raising the second highest amount of money was Norwood Resource Center, and raising the third highest amount was the Assistance League of Birmingham.
The total raised by all participating charities totaled $285,000. With the additional $30,000 matched from Red Diamond, the Birdies for Charity program raised a grand total of $315,000 in 2014.
Below is a complete listing of the 2014 Top Ten Birdies for Charity Bonus Bucks Winners:

1st Place and winner of $10,000 – VESTAVIA HILLS ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
2nd Place and winner of $ 7,500 – NORWOOD RESOURCE CENTER
3rd Place and winner of  $ 5,000 – ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF BIRMINGHAM
4th Place and winner of  $  2,500 – CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER OF MARSHALL COUNTY
5th Place and winner of  $  1,000 – GRACE KLEIN COMMUNITY, INC.
6th Place and winner of  $  1,000 –  FELLOWSHIP HOUSE, INC.
7th Place and winner of  $  1,000 –  METHODIST HOME FOR THE AGING
8th Place and winner of  $  1,000 –  COMMUNITY GRIEF SUPPORT SERVICE
9th Place and winner of  $     500 –  VOICES FOR ALABAMA’S CHILDREN
10th Place and winner of $    500 –  METRO CHANGERS, INC.
To become involved in the 2015 Regions Tradition Birdies for Charity program, organizations must have 501(c) 3 status as recognized by the IRS.  For more information on Birdies for Charity, as well as a list of participating charities, go to www.regionstradition.com.  For questions, contact Bethany Powe by email at bpowe@brunoeventteam.com.

Kimberly Washington is this year’s 2014 Alabama State University Birmingham Alumni Chapter Queen. She is a 2003 graduate of the University and represented the chapter in the Magic City Classic Parade.
Ms. Washington will participate in this weekend’s 91st Annual Turkey Day Classic. This is ASU’s homecoming and the University has scheduled festivities for the entire week as the Hornets will battle the Stillman Tigers.

Birmingham Councilwoman Sheila Tyson joined “The Friends of Real Estate” in providing Thanksgiving Assistance to the family of missing Fairfield woman Kierra Stubbs. Stubbs was last seen on April 24th after driving to a Boost Mobile store on 3rd Avenue to meet a man whom she called a friend who offered to help her repair the brakes on her car. She got into the man’s car and hasn’t been seen since. Her mother Lakinsa Stubbs is now taking care of her two children.
“The missing case of Kierra is such a sad case, and it has really touched the hearts of those in the Fairfield community,” Councilor Tyson said. “As a mother I can only imagine what Ms. Stubbs is going through. It is my hope that this assistance will be able to provide her family with some type of relief during the holidays.”
Additionally, Councilor Tyson is working to renew efforts to gain the public’s assistance in finding Stubbs. Councilor Tyson has offered a $1,000 reward for any information that leads to resolving this case.
“I truly believe that someone out there knows where Kierra is,” Councilor Tyson said. “We are pleading with the public to call police if they know anything about her disappearance. It is our hope that we will be able to bring Kierra home to her small children for the holidays.”
If you have any information about his case, please call police at 205-328-9311 or leave an anonymous tip with CrimeStoppers at 205-254-7777.
For more information please contact the Office of Councilor Sheila Tyson at 205.254.2359

Wenonah High School’s junior and senior students and Principal Regina Carr-Hope were privileged to host a visit from Civil Rights icon Shelley Stewart on Monday, November 10, 2014. Dr. Stewart is an honoree for the 2015 Alabama African American History Calendar. Students listened attentively as Dr. Stewart spoke, imparting to them the message, “I can.” He told them that if they learn to read, they can be anything they want to be. In turn, Wenonah presented a commemorative plaque to him, along with an official Wenonah High School t-shirt and cap.