Parole: Let's Learn from Tennessee/Exciting News!

The word parole has different connotations for different people. Let's be clear that the type of parole we're discussing today is for violent offenders only--usually murderers. In the state of Alabama, a felon not granted parole may be put off for five years before his/her next hearing. In the state of Tennessee, that period between parole consideration dates was six years. As of this week, that term has been lengthened to 10 years.

We realize our state legislature has important work to do each session. How has our state survived so long without a state dessert? If that august body in Montgomery really wanted to do something to help the entire state, passing a law similar to Tennessee's would be a great start.

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When over seven years ago we began our blog, our first goal was to reach 25 readers a day. We did just that within a few days, then set our goal to 50. Two weeks later we were hovering between 50 and 100, where we lingered for a few weeks. Then one day we checked our stats and found we'd reached over 500; what had happened?

The "what" was a link in the Shoals Insider, the area's first online news source. Unfortunately, due to other commitments, the owner delegated the oversight of SI to others, where it stagnated. We considered the SI effectively dead; three other area news sites then came into being--all different and  all worthwhile. End of story? Not quite. Last fall, the owner of the Shoals Insider returned to the helm of that publication and has been working tirelessly to bring it back to the forefront of Shoals news.

For some time, we've had an advertising compact with Pen-N-Sword; we're now adding the Shoals Insider to that line-up. Check out our advertising rates and packages at: (256) 394-2998.

Just a reminder: Shoals Insider, Pen-N-Sword, and Shoalanda Speaks have different owners/editors and are each solely responsible for any published content.

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Clo Stoner's Friend on Mark Montgomery's Plea

A long time friend of Clo Stoner sent us her thoughts on yesterday's plea deal that allowed Mark Montgomery to avoid the death penalty:

Oh, God help me! I was so afraid of this. We KNEW the SOB was guilty. AL isn't LA (OJ Simpson) or Pinellas County FL (Casey Anthony).

You see, now I'll never know what happened that day and I'll imagine 1001 things and always wonder and picture it: Who was shot first? How long between killings? DID SHE KNOW? DID SHE KNOW??? We'll never ever know whether they fought or there were drugs and booze or not or on who's part.

Now, I'll never know what happened that day. I'll never know if Clo was happy, or if she was unaware, or if they were fighting or if a 3rd person was involved in an altercation.

I'll never know if she was shot first or second, if she knew what was about to happen. If she had time to plead for her life, or start to run, or maybe even protect the dog, who may have been killed first.

I have waited and waited and waited for over 2 years to hear him tell his story of what happened that day and how and well, there is NO WHY. But, SOMETHING.

Now, nothing. No closure because we've ALWAYS known who did it. This is not what I thought would happen.

I'm sorry I can't put sentences together cogently right now.

I miss my friend so much. WHY did this happen to her? She was smart. She was educated. She was alone most of her life after her husband died.

And the DA had the NERVE to say this is a double death penalty case.

IS this a victory, Shoalanda? I am crying too hard to see. Is this any kind of justice when we still do not know what happened in that house and will never know? I KNEW he would get LWOP at the least. His own sister and mother were the ones who called 911. Jeez, where is the victory? Where is the relief?
Where is the FINALITY? There is none.

Sorry scum bastard was really a tough dude, wasn't he? Shot his very sweet, funny, smart, probably " keeping him up" girlfriend, my Clo, and his brother's gf, and an innocent little dog and he will have a TV, and books, and gain privileges, and never have to worry about being too cold or hungry or too hot or paying bills or anything at all for the rest of his PATHETIC LITTLE PILE OF A LIFE.

I don't understand why I am so hurt and angry but I am boatloads of BOTH. So, he saved the stupid state some money. The Montgomery family can now be martyrs.

And Clo, who will mourn for her? Who will go to her grave, IF there even is one? What about Joanne's friends and family, too? I bet they want to know what really happened if it's possible he could have ever told the truth.

Shoalanda, once he's settled in whatever prison they put him in, if you have the fortitude and the credentials to get in, PLEASE go and interview him and see if he will tell just some of it. I swear to you that I would if I could in any way but I have no press or writing credentials at all. And I'm not family. She only had some cousins, and maybe her mother in law in Huntsville.

I'm sorry this probably makes no sense but it is a shock to me. I just wanted to know what happened and how it happened, before it escalated to double murders and a little dog being shot to death too.

That horrible horrible COWARD. I hate him more than there are words, or thoughts or tears in my body.

Love you, and thank you for telling me. Help me feel differently about this if you can. Violent crime has never touched anyone I loved before now. Prison is too good for him. Way too good.

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Can we help Clo's friend feel differently? Probably not, at least yet. Will anyone ever interview Montgomery? It certainly won't be anyone from this blog--we're all commentators, not journalists. It's our opinion that Montgomery would enjoy nothing better than any limelight such an interview would give him.

Finally, was a plea the best outcome? At least it was certain. Viable insanity defenses are rare in this state, but there's always the possibility that Montgomery could have won some sort of eventual freedom at some point if his case had gone to trial. Think Ron Wikkid Weems who will be eligible for parole at some point.

Once again, our sincerest sympathies to the families and friends of Montgomery's victims.

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

The Curious Case of "Christmas of Light"

Everyone loves the late painter Thomas Kinkade, right? Okay, maybe not everyone, but many do find the work of Kinkade to be inspiring. So?

So...let's put on a show. In fact, let's put it on in Dollywood at Christmas and make a mint. At least that's what a few locals thought last fall. In November 2015, local real estate developer Eugene Sak incorporated "Christmas of Light Productions." Interestingly, Sak's headquarters are located in the same downtown office building as Bryan Robinson's. And what's a Brian Robinson story without Rick Silanskas and Gary Baker?

Yes, the now infamous Christmas of Light show was orchestrated by Rick Silanskas of DreamVisiton fame and local singer/songwriter Gary Baker (Baker Family Productions). The idea was pretty simple: A group of young singer/actors under the direction of Silanskas and Baker would sing Christmas music to a backdrop of seven Kinkade paintings. In addition to standard holiday carols, the show would feature original music by Gary Baker, all for a little less than fifty dollars per person.

At the time Sak purchased the Christmas of Light show, the production was ostensibly owned by Provident Global Capital (Bryan Robinson). Provident had contracted with three entities to stage the show: Triple Horse Productions, In:ciite Media, and DreamVision. The holiday show was already booked for the Smokey Mountain Palace at Dollywood when Sak completed the sale with Bryan Robinson. According to Sak's suit against the Killen resident, In:ciite and Triple Horse (both co-defendants) are now demanding payment from Sak.  The DreamVision company is conspicuously absent from the lawsuit. In other words, what did Robinson do with the money he received from Sak?

As for the show itself, it received mixed reviews. It's not on the Dollywood schedule for Christmas 2016, but perhaps a venue may yet be found in Zip City.

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It would appear that Bryan Robinson is from the Kanye West school of entrepreneurship--never use your own money when you can use someone else's. We have to ask why the three businessmen who invested 600K in Robinson's plan to flip Huntsville properties didn't attempt to purchase the defaulted real estate directly? We also have to ask why anyone, especially businessmen, trusted Robinson?

Remember: Shoalanda's Hoverboards...coming soon. Invest now!

Let's Play "Where's Rick Silanskas"

Since we recently did an update on Bryan Robinson, investment guru behind DreamVision, we decided to run down the company's head honcho Rick Silanskas. Guess what? He's now touring with his own stage show...of sorts.

Rick Silanskas

Of course two dates, both at the same theatre, aren't much of a tour.  So why? Many individuals simply crave the limelight, but Silanskas does have some pretty impressive credentials, at least to hear him tell it, so he would be welcome at many charity functions if he performed for free. Yet Silanskas isn't performing for free--he's performing at a small dinner theatre in Florida. There's no need to click on the ticket icon; we already did, and tickets are 30.00 and 39.00. Wonder how many they've sold?

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We couldn't help but notice that of all the songs Silanskas and his partner are performing, none of them is the DreamVision theme composed by Gary Baker. Maybe he'd take a special request?

More Molestation Charges/Return to Heroin 22

The number of alleged victims of a Jungle Safari employee has now risen to five. Authorities have indicated they expect the total number of young girls abused by Daryl V. Raymond Jr. to be even higher. If any or our readers know of other victims, please encourage them to come forward now. Victims' families may contact the Florence Police Department or One Place of the Shoals.

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Next month marks the second anniversary of a multi-state operation designed to cripple heroin distribution and sales across the southeast. In the Shoals area alone, 22 were arrested.

The Heroin 22

Some of these individuals are already serving their sentences, but many others remain in the state and federal judicial system. Two of those charged locally have been in the news the past few weeks.

Jasmond Dewand Foster, now 38, is known as Jazz. The former Florence resident was one of eight who were arrested on both state and federal charges. Foster was indicted in circuit court last month and remains in the Lauderdale Detention Center on bond totaling over one million dollars.

Also in the news is an update on Brady Ann Irons, now 31, arrested on multiple drug charges during the same drug sweep. It would appear we still have her trial to look forward to:

Brady Ann Irons

Updates on Jungle Safari & Bryan Robinson

We received several comments on our Jungle Safari blog that were unpublishable due to language. Anyone whose comment we didn’t publish, please feel free to resend without the profanity. As of today, here’s the status of yesterday’s events.

* A Jungle Safari employee was arrested and remains in the Florence Detention Center. There is no mugshot for Darryl V. Raymond Jr. due to problems with the booking camera at the detention center.

* Reports indicate the manager of Jungle Safari assisted in Raymond’s arrest. The traveling petting zoo left Florence yesterday for Birmingham.

* There were some reports of a second employee acting suspiciously, but no official complaints were filed. We’ll add that such traveling shows are prime targets for pickpockets. While we can’t compare monetary crimes with sexual abuse, no one wants to have one’s wallet lifted. Exercise caution at all times.

* Jungle Safari has been the focus of animal abuse allegations before. We hope this puts an end to such attractions in Florence and the Shoals. Many local farms present animals in a natural setting in the spring and fall, charging only a small fee for admission. We recommend supporting these endeavors. You may not see lions and tigers, but you won’t be seeing abused animals either.

* The father who was questioned by Florence Police was not arrested, but was released at the scene. If any other parents are aware of abuse, please report it to the FPD and One Place of the Shoals.

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We had some reader questions about Bryan Robinson of DreamVision fame. Here’s a chronological recap/update of his legal status.

* Pre-DreamVision, Robinson has two monetary judgments against his companies due to non-payment of rent in Colbert County.

* As recently as last September, Robinson restructured his current company and promised there would be an announcement by December 31, 2015, concerning land purchases for DreamVision in Colbert County.

* Robinson is the focus of a state securities commission investigation. The commission has sent Robinson a cease and desist order in connection with the sale of securities/stocks in the state.

* Robinson is the defendant in three local lawsuits. One suit is seeking back rent from the financier in connection with his most recent offices in the Greater Alabama building in Florence. A second suit is in connection with legal commitments related to a Dollywood light show which Robinson failed to keep.

* The third lawsuit in Lauderdale County against Bryan Robinson was brought by a local businessman, one of three who claim they were defrauded by the Killen investment counselor in a Huntsville property flip scheme. Robinson did not appear in court last week to answer charges and Judge Mike Jones ruled in favor of the plaintiff, awarding him 287K. Two others, reportedly brothers, who invested in the same property deal, have not to our knowledge filed suit.

* Sources have indicated there will be further criminal charges filed against Robinson in connection with the 600K total lost in the Huntsville housing scheme.