Suspect faces charges in two cases

A Clanton man indicted in February for murder and rape in two unrelated cased waived his arraignment for the murder case March 7 and was also served with indictment papers for the other case.

Marty Joe Taylor, 50, was arrested in October 2012 in Chilton County following a prolonged investigation conducted by multiple agencies into the 1998 death of 39-year-old Jennifer Gail Hampton of Clanton.

Hampton was found by a passing motorist off Hinkle Road in Clanton on Oct. 18, 1998. An autopsy concluded she was shot in the back of the head.

Hampton’s death was treated as a homicide and at the time was Clanton’s first since October 1994.

In the other case involving a different victim, Taylor was indicted and charged with one count of rape in the first degree.

This offense occurred in January 2001 and was discovered by agencies working on Taylor’s murder investigation.

“We received some additional evidence and we’re now able to prosecute the case,” said C.J. Robinson, chief deputy district attorney for the 19th Judicial Circuit, which includes Chilton County.

Taylor was taken to the Chilton County Jail after waiving his arraignment and being served his indictment March 7. Taylor had posted bond and was out March 7.

Commission gives airport $25,000

The Chilton County Commission unanimously voted on March 11 to give the Chilton County Airport $25,000 for 12 years for the use of new hangars.

Commission Chairman Allen Caton said some of the commissioners met with members of the Chilton County Airport Authority during a work session on March 4 and discussed upcoming plans for the airport.

Caton said some of the plans included building more hangars at the airport in an effort to bring in additional revenue for the airport.

“It was a good report,” Caton said. “The board is asking us for $25,000 a year that will be taken out of the Trade School and Industrial and Rural Development Fund to pay for some more hangars.”

Commissioner Shannon Welch made a motion to deduct $25,000 a year for the next 12 years out of the county’s Trade School and Industrial and Rural Development Fund with commissioner Greg Moore seconding the motion.

Commissioner Heedy Hayes said he thought the $25,000 sounded “cheap” for the purchase of new hangars but Airport Authority Chairman Craig Cleckler said the money would be used at a lending institution where the $25,000 would be used as collateral to borrow more funds for the hangars.

“It is a win-win situation,” Cleckler said. “Thankfully the lending institutions allow a resolution from the commission as an asset.”

Bachus visits Chilton County

U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus stopped by Chilton County on March 28 to tour Jefferson State Community College Chilton-Clanton campus, the Maplesville Senior Center and Central Alabama Electric Cooperative.

During his visit to Jeff State, Bachus said a common problem facing congress is not enough money and too much spending.

Bachus recognized Dr. Judy M. Merritt who has been the president of Jefferson State Community College for 34 years.

Bachus said Merritt was a humble person who never “tooted her own horn” and treated Jeff State as her family.

Merritt said success requires leadership and commended the leaders of Chilton County for making the Chilton-Clanton campus a success.

With close to 700 students enrolled, Bachus said it was encouraging to see a campus that had a promising future.

Bachus thanked everyone who attended his visit to Jeff State and Merritt said Chilton County has been a wonderful community of showing support for the campus.

Members of the Chilton-Clanton campus administration led the congressman on a tour of the Clanton Conference and Performing Arts Center before he left to visit the Maplesville Senior Center and Central Alabama Electric Cooperative.

April

Kidnapping under investigation

Federal and state law enforcement agencies assisted Thorsby Police Department with the investigation of a robbery and kidnapping on March 31.

None of the three victims in the case was seriously injured, TPD Chief Rodney Barnett said.

The alleged crimes were committed at two different residences, one at Third Street and another at Jones Street.

Investigators searched for at least two suspects and later arrested two Moulton men in connection with a home invasion, robbery and kidnapping in Thorsby on Easter Sunday.

Scotty Ray Smith, 33, and Panagiotis Jerome Theodory, 32, both residents of Moulton, were arrested April 2 in Moulton by Alabama Bureau of Investigation agents with help from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, according to a press release provided by ABI.

The suspects were charged with two counts of first-degree robbery and one count of first-degree kidnapping for crimes that occurred at two different residences in Thorsby. They were being held in Chilton County Jail.