Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle?

"Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle" seems to be a charge that's a general catch-all for various crimes (and misdemeanors?). We once thought it pertained solely to those who borrowed a car and didn't bring it back.

Many years ago, a young woman was moving. She borrowed a truck from a friend, then allowed her boyfriend to keep the truck overnight. It seems this woman had some serious problems for which she refused to get help. When her family heard of the truck situation, they promptly persuaded the neighbor to charge the woman with car theft. The charge stuck, and Lauderdale County managed to get a conviction on the theft charges. Since the woman already had a a felony conviction for drugs, she was sent South.

But how about the other way? Will the district attorney or a victim prefer lesser charges if the thief is known to the victim or even a friend? It seems so.

Steven Lee Scott (pictured left) seems to be a prime example of this phenomenon. While on drugs, he knocked down a friend, rifled through her handbag for her car keys, and managed to get as far away as Moulton with her much-needed vehicle. Yet he was charged with only Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle. Apparently law enforcement couldn't make the woman testify against her friend, but a lesser charge enabled her to at least get her vehicle back.

Now the most recent Lauderdale County indictments have been published and we find that Andrew Daniel Scott (pictured right) has yet another charge tacked to several theft and burglary crimes. He's also been charged with Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle. Why? We're guessing, like the Village Square victim in Russellville, this was the only way a friend or family member could reclaim his transportation.

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A Good Samaritan account has been set up for Timothy Shane Green at Bank Independent. Green remains in critical condition at UAB after saving his two children from a house fire. You may donate at any Bank Independent simply be informing the teller you want to place funds in the Good Sam account for Green.



Shoalanda

Why Did MedCall Close?/New Info on Franklin "Rape"

We recently reported that Med-Call Ambulance in Muscle Shoals had closed. Med-Call was a division of First Response in Decatur. It seems First Response has also closed, at least partially. The Decatur service was one of two in that city authorized to respond to 911 calls.

From a WHNT report:

Late Monday, Morgan County Circuit Court Judge Sherrie Paler ruled in response to a petition filed this summer by Decatur Emergency Medical Services, Inc., or DEMSI, who has operated an ambulance service in Decatur for approximately 17 years. The petition challenged the city license granted to Healthcare Investment Group, Inc., to operate First Response Ambulance Service in Decatur. Paler ruled the city had not followed its own regulations in accepting HGI’s application and therefore ruled their license invalid. 

We may assume the Decatur operations were at least partially subsidizing Med-Call in Muscle Shoals. As reported earlier, a new service is on its way to the Shoals...

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We recently blogged on Natasha Jean Bridges, accused in Franklin County of Second Degree Rape and Electronic Solicitation, both charges involving a 15 year-old boy. New information has come to light. We are reporting it in fairness to Ms. Bridges; it will be interesting to see if charges are eventually dropped or how this may play out at trial.

It seems that approximately six weeks ago, Ms. Bridges allowed this young man and his mother to temporarily move into her apartment after they became homeless.The boy reportedly downloaded Facebook pics of Bridges onto his cell phone. Now the family is living in Ms. Brooks home while she is in jail on Second Degree Rape charges.

Which side of this convoluted tale is true? We don't know. It's obvious that no matter which side is the victim, the other side acted in a reprehensible manner. We look forward to hearing more on this.



Shoalanda

Bail Fails/More Most Wanted

We've previously discussed the wide disparity in charges involving murder in Alabama: Capital Punishment Charges Not Administered Fairly. Now we're adding the bail/no bail conundrum to our list of "things that make no sense."

Yesterday we blogged on murder suspect Angel Campos, charged with Capital Murder, receiving a bond amount of 500K. Campos is a man with a lengthy record of domestic violence. He's accused of beating and stabbing his estranged wife to death--quite a vicious and personal crime.

Today we've read that a Limestone County judge has refused Joel Moyers bail. Moyers has no record, shot a man he had never met and held no animosity toward, and claims he was simply attempting to stop a suspicious vehicle.

If you, gentle readers, heard of these two cases, which one would you select to have bail? Campos or Moyers? It's not really difficult, except apparently in Alabama.

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We've recently added a link at the top of our blog to the Most Wanted section of Pen-N-Sword. The Quad-Cities Daily also has a new Most Wanted section. Be sure to check out both of these; you might earn some reward money...and who wouldn't want that?

Shoals Most Wanted

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So how much did the plans for the Railroad Bridge fetch? Four bidders participated, and the winning bid was $107.50. Now that's some dedication to history...or bridges.

Shoalanda

Why a Bond for Angel Campos?

Two from Russellville:

Angel Campos, immigration status unknown, had been convicted twice of Domestic Violence against his wife, the mother of three of his children. Last week, Campos beat Lesley Hope Plott again, then stabbed her repeatedly, finally leaving her lifeless body at the entrance to a drainage ditch.

Now Campos has been charged with Capital Murder, but could conceivably win at least short freedom if he can come up with 500K bail. Realistically, if Campos should find anyone insane enough to provide bail, he would be on the road to the border before you could say "Hasta La Vista."

So, why was bail even established? Since no bail was allowed in the Christy Scott murder case in Franklin County, we may assume the court felt there was absolutely no chance of Campos dredging up the funds. Please don't say, "Oh, but he would wear an ankle monitor." Ankle monitors are appropriate for keeping some "criminals" at home, but never deter anyone who has nothing to lose.

That brings us to sentencing, should Campos be convicted. We rarely favor the death penalty. Yet in the case of such immigrants as Campos, his life behind bars would still be superior to what he lived in his native country.

We know Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing favors the death penalty in most cases. Let's hope he can pull it off with this miserable excuse for a homo sapien.

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We're aware Russellville might not be a single woman's dream, but surely a 29 year-old Haleyville High graduate isn't forced to date 15 year-old boys. According to authorities, Natasha Jean Bridges did just that. Not only is Bridges being charged with Second Degree Rape, she's also facing the relatively new charge of Electronic Solicitation.

What should she expect if convicted? Dana Myhan Allen received a sentence of three years in Lauderdale County on a charge of Second Degree Rape. We'll speculate any conviction on the Solicitation charge will run concurrently with the rape conviction.

Note to parents: Tell your teenage sons that older women don't have their best interests at heart.



Shoalanda

One Million Moms & Maxwell

Did you ever start out to read a news article and suddenly think you must have gotten on The Onion by mistake? Or Mad As a Hatter, if there is such a site? I certainly thought so when I read about a group called One Million Moms. It seems they want to promote morality in television. Well I'm all for that, but let's face it, the lowest common denominator rules in TV these days. I usually just turn it off and start to do something productive, like surfing the Internet.

One Million Moms wants to ban references to homosexuals, drugs, and most sex. Their latest campaign deals with the last, sorta. You know who Maxwell is? Here's his pic.

Lemme tell you, One Million Moms is pretty upset with Maxwell and Geico. Why? Well he goes on a date in his latest commercial, and not with another pig either. No, Maxwell is dating a real live girl. Now everyone knows what this is called, right? I'd say funny, but One Million Moms is calling it a promotion of bestiality. No word from the Muslim lobby yet.

Where were these Moms when Howard the Duck dated Beverly? Of when Roger Rabbit married Jessica? And don't even start thinking about that M&M trying to date a chocolate crazed seductress.

Like I said, I'm all for more morality in television. I'm also for common sense. Not too much of that at One Million Moms.

Bailey

Ambulance Wars Claim a Casualty/Machismo

Med-Call Ambulance is no longer extant. The ambulance company's primary office is in Decatur, and the Shoals location was plagued by difficulties from the beginning of its operations. Sources have told us still another ambulance service will be locating in the Shoals within the next few weeks. Stay tuned...

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Sheffield Police have stated Friday night's home invasion happened in the 200 block of Sterling Boulevard, also known as 19th Street. This block is immediately to the north of Avalon Avenue and contains only two homes.

These types of crimes are disconcerting to say the least. Newly reinstated Chief Greg Ray was probably hoping for a less stressful welcome back.

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Ladies, your word for today is a Spanish import--machismo. Not quite sure what it means? Here's a couple of definitions:

ma·chis·mo

[mah-cheez-moh, -chiz-, muh-] noun

1.

a strong or exaggerated sense of manliness; an assumptive attitude that virility, courage, strength, and entitlement to dominate are attributes or concomitants of masculinity.

2.

a strong or exaggerated sense of power or the right to dominate: The military campaign was an exercise in national machismo.

Want to wind up beaten, stabbed, and left in a drain pipe? No? May we suggest you avoid relationships with those who display this attribute.

 Shoalanda

An End to Navistar Complaints?

A source at Navistar Barton has indicated air quality and other working conditions have caused over 20 employees to leave the would-be truck manufacturing facility. Unionization has also been widely discussed--something we're surprised hasn't already taken place.

Perhaps the new tenant FreightCar America will do much to correct some of these problems. The company's press release states it will occupy approximately 25% of the mile-long plant. It might be fortuitous to Navistar if FreightCar expands to fill the entire manufacturing facility. Financial pundits have not exactly predicted a banner year for Navistar.

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A source reports that Corey Leighann Thornton has contacted friends to relate she is safe; however, it appears the Franklin County woman has now made the area's most wanted list.

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Part of the Railroad Bridge may be history, but you can still own a copy of the original plans for the historic drawbridge: Link



Shoalanda