No Parole for James Lavon Bates!

Three-Time Loser James Lavon Bates

The Alabama Prison System has been a revolving door for James Lavon Bates since 1993. In May of that year, Bates was sentenced to 15 years in prison on two counts of Second Degree Theft and one count of First Degree Theft in Colbert County. Bates would have been free, even without parole, in five years if he had been a model prisoner, but the serial repeater was anything but good in prison and eventually served six and one-half years before ending his sentence.

By December 2002, Bates was convicted in Colbert County on four more charges: Second Degree Escape, Third Degree Burglary, and two counts of Second Degree Theft. These charges netted Bates another 15 years, and after five and one-half years Bates returned to the Shoals a free man.

In 2009, Bates' criminal career escalated. In January of that year he was convicted in Colbert County on two counts of Second Degree Receiving Stolen Property for which he received concurrent 18 month sentences; however, it was a First Degree Theft charge in Lawrence County which netted Bates a concurrent 20 year sentence in August 2009. While not tried for the crime, Bates also committed First Degree Rape in Lawrence County in connection with the theft.

Due to Bates current sentence being a Class A Felony, as well as over 15 years, he is not eligible this go-round for Correctional Incentive Time; he is eligible for parole. He is currently housed under medium security at the Bullock Correctional Facility. While a hearing date has not yet been scheduled, it's believed that a hearing will be held in late June or early July. An officer from the parole board has already contacted some of Bates' victims.

We hope that both the Colbert and Lawrence County District Attorney's offices will protest James Lavon Bates' parole. We also are encouraging our readers to write the board in protest of any early release for this career criminal:

Alabama Board of Pardons & Paroles
Re: James Lavon Bates  AIS# 172673
Post Office Box 302405
Montgomery, AL 36130-2405