Huntsville Woman Charged with Reckless Murder in Fatal Car Crash
Jessica Jean Gatewood, 50, has been formally charged with murder after she caused a fatal car crash in Limestone County this past September. She now faces charges of reckless murder, driving under the influence, two counts of third-degree assault, and driving while revoked. Gatewood remains in Limestone County Jail with bail set at $33,500. State troopers accuse Gatewood […]
Birmingham Man Arrested for Selling Heroin in Tuscaloosa
Agents with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force arrested William Earl Moore on Monday night after they were informed that he planned to sell heroin at a local gas off of exit 100 on Interstate 20/59. According to Tuscaloosa Police spokesman, Sargent Brent Blankley, investigators approached him for questioning immediately after the transaction took place […]
Montgomery Fugitive Captured in Norfolk by US Marshals
United States Marshals for the Eastern District of Virginia announced on Thursday that they had captured an Alabama fugitive that had been eluding capture for the last 23 years. Jeffrey Martin, now 52, was charged with first-degree robbery in 1990 and arrested. After posting bond, Martin stopped coming to court and disappeared. He had been wanted in […]
Tuscaloosa Sherriff’s Deputy Charged with DUI
Tuscaloosa deputy, Patrick Bailey, has been placed on paid leave after he was involved in an accident that took place on Friday November 15th. Bailey was arrested by state troopers on DUI charges after his personal vehicle struck an 18-wheeler near exit 79 on I-20/50 southbound around 3:30 a.m. The driver of the 18-wheeler was treated for […]
New Alabama law raises questions about child support payments for college
As covered in previous articles by the Birmingham divorce attorneys at Boles Holmes White, the Alabama Supreme Court recently issued a landmark decision in Christopher v. Christopher, which overturned a well-established 24 year old legal precedent within Alabama. Prior to the opinion in Christopher, which was released on October 4, 2013, non-custodial parents in Alabama could be ordered by […]
College Payments Can No Longer be Judicially Forced
For over 20 years in the State of Alabama, post-minority “child support” through the payment of college tuition and expenses could be ordered against a non-custodial parent as a form of child support. This rule came into effect in the late 1980’s with the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling in Bayliss, which became one of the most controversial […]
Birmingham Man Pleads Guilty to Criminal Charges
Johnny Jerell Effinger, 32, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree robbery and one count of attempted murder before Jefferson County Circuit Judge Tracie Todd during a hearing on Tuesday November 12, 2013. Each charge is a class A felony and is punishable with 15 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $60,000. These charges stem from […]
Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed in Wreck that Killed Teen
The stepfather of a teenager killed in a fatal car crash last year has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Brandon Scott Smith, the driver of the 2004 Nissan Altima that overturned and struck a parked vehicle on Jackson Trace Toad at 1:00 a.m. on September 30, 2012. Patricia Gayle Todd, 19, was thrown from the car […]
When Your Inheritance Becomes Our Money
When parties file for divorce, courts consider the current financial situation of both husband and wife, including whether they are working, and any assets that they may have. This is because, if a divorce is granted, courts will attempt to divide the assets of the marriage (known as the marital estate) between the two parties in […]
Former Montevallo Attorney Charged with Burning Pedestrian Bridge
Steven Ralph Sears, a former attorney for the City of Montevallo, is now facing a first degree criminal charge of mischief in Shelby County involving an attempt to burn a bridge used by pedestrians and bicyclists. Records show that Sears, 61, secured release from the Shelby County Jail on Saturday after posting a $5,000 bond. He was […]