Grand jury issues 159 indictments

Published 2:20 pm Friday, August 7, 2015

The Chilton County grand jury issued 159 indictments during its August session and delivered the following report to Circuit Judge John B. Bush.

“To the honorable John B. Bush, circuit judge:

After having been impaneled and receiving instructions from the court, we proceeded to investigate all matters that came before us, and we herewith submit the following report:

During our deliberations, we heard 215 cases and are returning 159 true bills.

The law enforcement officers who presented cases were professional and well prepared. We deeply appreciate their devotion to duty, their hard work and courage in risking their lives to protect us all.

We toured the Chilton County Jail and found it to be in good working order. We also had the opportunity to observe the Chilton County Courthouse. We note that the judicial space is inadequate for all the court’s business. We recommend that the Chilton County Commission also consider the construction of a new judicial complex. We reviewed the Examiners of Public Accounts audits on the Mental Health Board of Chilton and Shelby counties, the Chilton County Emergency Communications District, the Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the Judicial Administration Fund, and the Chilton County Board of Education. We found no indictable offenses.

Now having complied with your Honor’s instruction to the best of our ability, we request that we be recessed until such time as it may be necessary to have us reconvene.”

Aug. 7, 2015.

The grand jury in Chilton County meets twice each year including February and August.

The August 2014 grand jury issued 110 indictments, 49 cases less than the cases indicted this August.

In February, the grand jury issued 163 indictments, after hearing 209 cases.