Reedtown Rapist is Free Again!

Mark Anthony Hurley on 2/1/2012 Release

If you're not familiar with Mark Anthony Hurley, aka the Reedtown Rapist, here's a brief rundown of his crimes/convictions:

4/2000 - First Degree Rape - Unknown Conviction

4/2002 - First Degree Rape - Convicted First Degree Sexual Torture (Free by 7/2003)

9/2003 - First Degree Rape - Convicted  (Conviction Overturned)

9/2009 - First Degree Rape (Pleaded to Second Degree Assault) - Convicted

2/2010 - Possession of Controlled Substance-Non Marijuana - Convicted

Hurley's last charge of drug possession occurred while he was on bond for the September 2009 rape; he remained in jail until his March 2011 plea agreement. Hurley received a split sentence requiring him to serve three years in prison and was given credit for time served. In other words, Mark Anthony Hurley was scheduled to be released sometime in February 2013.

For whatever reason, Hurley was released on February 1, 2012, and returned to Russellville. He presumably still has five to six years of probation to serve. Any crimes Hurley may commit now would qualify him for not only probation revocation, but a life sentence as a habitual offender. We wish Franklin County law enforcement the best...

Related post: The Saga of the Reedtown Rapist

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From D.K.: The (bond revocation) hearing for David Darryl Thompson will be April 25th @ 8:30 on 4th floor in Judge Self's court room.

Related post: Why is David Darryl Thompson Out of Prison?

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Vote Tomorrow!

Shoalanda

Who's a Throw-Away Person in the Shoals?

Bill Fences is moving to the Shoals; we're calling this hypothetical richest man in America "Bill Fences," since we wish no ill luck on any real person...and Bill Fences will meet quite a bit of that in these hypothetical tales. Yes, one of the world's richest men is moving his family here--possibly because of the bass fishing, fine dining, and lure of watching those 1,800 rail car workers clock in and out each day. Alas, Bill soon meets unexpected trouble in our little Shangri La.

Scenario One: Bill and his family settle into their gated community only to be awakened one night by Clovis "Mad Dog" Smoot who has wrecked his chopper and scaled the electrified fence to reach a telephone. Mad Dog likes the way little Bill looks and decides to take advantage of him, ultimately choking him to death. Mad Dog tries to cover up his crime by shooting Bill and claiming his death resulted from a suicide. When forensics prove this is impossible, just what kind of sentence will Mad Dog receive for killing the richest man in America?

Substitute the name Jennifer Helen Bragg for Bill Fences, and you could anticipate a sentence of only 25 years. Link

Scenario Two: Bill's wife is out of town and he invites his new friend Mad Dog over to bring the refreshments. Surprisingly, after enough refreshments, Bill and Mad Dog begin to argue. When Mad Dog shoots Bill, he claims to have been trying to save Bill from suicide (popular defense, isn't it?). Forensics prove the shooting couldn't have happened the way Mad Dog described, but since both men were overly "refreshed," what kind of sentence would you anticipate in this case?

Substitute the name Melissa Kenney Garrett and you could expect 20 years at most. The nurse's killer David Darryl Thompson has not yet been sentenced, but he was convicted of only manslaughter. We will give praise where due: Will Powell and the Lauderdale District Attorney's office did try Thompson for murder.

Scenario Three: Bill's a friendly kind of guy and accepts an invitation to a party on the 12th floor of Courtview Towers where he runs into his old friend Mad Dog. The two men retire to the balcony, enclosed by a four-foot wall. Sadly, only Mad Dog leaves the balcony the traditional way, grabbing his coat and running out of the apartment. After Bill's broken body is found much later in the evening, four of those at the party give statements. Only Mad Dog does not come forward, but has to be located by investigators almost two days later. After questioning, Mad Dog admits Bill's death was not an accident, and authorities arrest him for murder. Mad Dog refuses to say more about Bill's death, and calls a local minister as a character witness. What kind of sentence would Mad Dog deserve in this case?

Substitute the name Bryan Christopher Tackett for Bill Fences, and his killer would receive a plea deal of only one year actual prison time. Tracy Scott Lyndon, claiming to be a friend of Tackett, never offered any explanation for the strange death, but accepted the sweetheart deal the day before the trial was to begin.

Ah, justice in the Shoals...is it all who you are or who you know? We hope not. Yes, some contribute more to society than others, but there should be no throw-away people.

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Are there those among our readers who fondly remember Charles Gaisser at UNA? He oft stated: If they can bus your children to a certain school, they can bus you to pick cotton.

Now the above statement may be overkill, but it does come to mind with the new laws concerning the purchase of pseudoephedrine. Because of a certain few--those of low standards and even lower IQs--many no longer buy the sinus medication at all.

Will restrictions on this drug stop those who cook meth? Hardly. Will the next step be banning growing poppies in our flower gardens? If so, perhaps the American Legion can intervene...



Shoalanda

Rail Car Plant to Leave Shoals?

What should have been the headline of today's TimesDaily was merely the last sentence in Trevor Stokes' article on the abysmal wages paid in the Shoals. Here for the world to read is the sad news:

When asked about the future of the railcar facility, Wright would only comment, “We're talking with companies that could operate in that facility.”

Forrest Wright is head of the Shoals Economic Development Authority. Perhaps this was the way of our local newspaper informing us the cat is on the roof.

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Is tourism, not manufacturing, to be the Shoals' long term future? Certainly our friend Sandra Killen-Burroughs is making things happen in that area. From a recent press release:

Sandra Killen Burroughs, with the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association and chairman of the Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Board has completed the first portion of a three-year professional development program that will lead to certification as a Tourism Marketing Professional (TMP).

Killen Burroughs was one of 232 tourism professionals enrolled at the Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College earlier this month. The week-long program turns the facilities of North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega, Ga., into a laboratory to teach tourism marketing each summer.

There is no other professional development program like the STS Marketing College, and it is recognized nationally for its training of tourism leaders. 564 people have earned TMP certification.

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According to D.K., the murder trial in the death of local nurse Melissa Garrett has been postponed until October. Her accused killer Darryl David Thompson remains in the Lauderdale County Detention Center.

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From C. R. (All Cherokee residents should read this--way to go, C. R.):

What are Law Enforcement Guns Used For ?

One would think that a law enforcement weapon would be used on duty. The use of the weapon would protect the public and officer from an armed assailant. It does not appear this is the case in Cherokee. Two Police issued weapons were stolen while the police officer was on duty. The report was taken by the Tuscumbia Police Department. The report states an AR-15 and shotgun were stolen from the officer's residence in Tuscumbia. The officer, who is the police chief’s son, found the guns stolen from his house while on duty.

Why was the officer at his house while on duty in Cherokee? This could explain the slow response time to several calls by this officer. Why was the officer on duty without his city issued weapons? Reliable sources state just a week before the theft, the officer had to return to his house to get his AR-15 because of a deadly situation that arose while he was on duty. Speeding at a very high rate would take at least 30 minutes for the officer to return to his house and retrieve his weapons, then return to Cherokee.

Mister police officer, you might want to carry your issued weapons with you while on duty. I am sorry, I forgot they were stolen and you cannot carry them anymore.

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Shoalanda

Get connected in September!

Update on Fatal Moulton Crash/Melissa Garrett Murder

According to the most recent reports from North Courtland Police and the Alabama Department of Public Safety, Officer Brandon Shane Mundy has been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation into the traffic deaths of Gary and Sandra Cox. Munday was treated at Decatur General Hospital where he received numerous stitches due to an airbag injury.

Troopers report that no skid marks were found at the accident scene, despite Mundy's assertion he tried to stop at the intersection. Reacting to what could be termed an outlandish rumor that Mundy attempted to remove the black box from his patrol car upon dismissal from the hospital, North Courtland Chief Alex Taylor stated he personally removed all the recording devices from Munday's vehicle after the crash, turning them over to State Troopers conducting the initial investigation.

Pending the results of the Department of Public Safety inquiry, North Courtland will also conduct its own investigation and present the results to the town council. Public Safety results will be forwarded to the Lawrence County District Attorney's office.

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Jury selection will begin Monday in the murder trial of Darryl David Thompson. The Florence man is accused of shooting Melissa Kenney Garrett execution style at the LPN's home on Harrison Road in Killen. The Lauderdale County District Attorney's office has not ruled out the possibility of a plea agreement, assuming Garrett's father does not object. Garrett was also survived by a teenage daughter.

Thompson has several previous convictions and could be tried as a habitual offender. Certainly, we here at Shoalanda feel this piece of sewage scum should never see the free world again. If Thompson is allowed to plea, we will publish the data to contest any parole he may be offered at a later date.

Thanks to D.K. for updating this story for us.

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We received several positive comments on yesterday's eBay find. Here's another interesting, albeit pricey, item that should be returned to the Shoals.

Link


Shoalanda



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