Judge denies youthful offender status for 15-year-old charged with murder

Published 5:06 pm Monday, November 3, 2014

A Chilton County judge denied the request of a 15-year-old Clanton male who sought youthful offender status on a 2013 murder charge.

Lonnie Fells’ youthful offender hearing was held Oct. 27 in front of Chilton County Judge Sibley Reynolds for the stabbing death of the teen’s 69-year-old female relative.

The incident occurred Dec. 30, 2013, just two days prior to New Year’s Day.

Authorities at the time of the incident reported responding to a call of a woman unconscious at her home in the 400 block of County Road 356.

Once on the scene, authorities found Annareta Fells outside her mobile home with multiple stab wounds.

Annareta Fells was pronounced dead on the scene.

Authorities did not provide details at the time regarding the relationship between Annareta Fells and Lonnie Fells.

At the time of the incident, authorities did not provide Lonnie Fells’ identity due to his age, and whether he would be tried in court as an adult or a juvenile.

According to court records, Lonnie Fells was indicted by a Chilton County Grand Jury in August and later arrested.

Fells has a plea date scheduled for April 20, 2015, at 9 a.m. at the Chilton County Courthouse.

He is currently in jail on a $100,000 bond.