Edgewood QB named AISA Back of the Year. See Sports, Page 8. Wetumpka, AL 36092
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Wetumpka mother indicted on abuse charges
Stricter qualifications sought for sheriff candidates By KEVIN TAYLOR Copy Editor
In 1901, when the state’s constitution was established, the qualifications for a candidate for sheriff in Elmore County were simple: Be at least 18 years old and a resident of the county for at least a day. Those qualifications still stand today. Sheriff Bill Franklin proposed and asked the county commission’s blessing Monday to seek to have the qualifications changed before the next election cycle for sheriff. Franklin said he would like to see Franklin the minimum age be 25 years old, and require any candidates a U.S. citizen, not be convicted of a felony, be a resident of the county for at least one year, have a college degree related to criminal justice and have a minimum of three years of the power to arrest someone. “Right now if you have been convicted of a felony, you can still run for sheriff,” Franklin told the commission. “The only problem is the police academy won’t admit a
By KEVIN TAYLOR Copy Editor
Kevin Taylor / The Herald
Makeshift memorials still stand off Firetower Road in Elmore County where four people died in a head-on collision Nov. 23, 2014. Rep. Mike Holmes has prefiled a bill to make teens and their parents more aware of the graduated driver’s license law.
convicted felon.” After getting a vote of confidence from the commission, he plans to submit the proposed legislation to Rep. Mike Holmes (R-Wetumpka) to be filed in the upcoming legislative session. “There are other counties in the state which have upped their qualifications for candidates for sheriff,
MLK program set Sunday at civic center Program themed “What are you doing for others?” begins at 3 p.m. By KEVIN TAYLOR Copy Editor
It’s been a long-standing tradition in Elmore County since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Each year since King’s assassination, a civic group or groups have honored his memory as a pioneer in the civil rights movement. This Sunday residents throughout the River Region are invited to join in celebrating King’s upcoming birthday as well as honor some of the county’s most talented students in the fields of academia and athletics at the Wetumpka Civic Center. The program, which is themed “What Are You Doing for Others?,” will begin at 3 p.m. Following the posting of the colors by the Wetumpka JROTC, various pastors and ministers from around the River Region will share their See MLK • Page 2
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so we are following the trend,” Franklin said. Four other local items are already prefiled by Rep. Paul Beckman (R-Prattville) as well as Holmes. “Winston’s Law” Beckman has prefiled a bill in the House to make aggravated child See COMMISSION • Page 2
Millbrook man killed in Montgomery shooting
Former Tallassee assistant Chief of Police Miles plead guilty to one count each of obstruction of justice, deprivation of rights and distribution of marijuana. Carmen Rodgers / The Herald
Charges piling up for former Tallassee Assistant Police Chief By KEVIN TAYLOR Copy Editor
The charges keep on coming. After former Tallassee assistant police chief Chris Miles pleaded guilty in federal court to obstruction of justice, deprivation of
A Wetumpka mother, who allegedly beat her 4-year-old son so badly that doctors were surprised to see the boy survive, is now facing one count of aggravated child abuse and one count of chemical endangerment of a child. An Elmore County grand jury recently returned the indictment and charged Hallee McLeod in connection with the September abuse of her son. “I am pleased we can now begin the judicial process for the family of McLeod’s young victim, who suffered a horrible injustice at the hand of his own mother,” said Randall Houston, district attorney for the 19th judicial circuit. The little boy was found in back of her boyfriend’s McLeod vehicle unresponsive near the Bay County Courthouse. Emergency medical technicians said the boy had bruises all over his body and extreme bruising to the groin area. McLeod, 28, was arrested in Elmore County and initially charged with aggravated child abuse. She was later charged with chemical endangerment of a child when medical labs came back to reveal the boy had various prescription medications in his system. Police say the little boy did not have a prescription for those medications. McLeod is currently being held in the Elmore County Jail on a $300,000 bond.
rights as well as distribution of marijuana in November, he now faces additional charges on another matter. Randall Houston, district attorney for the 19th judicial circuit, confirmed that an Elmore County grand
By KEVIN TAYLOR Copy Editor
Montgomery police say they are conducting a homicide investigation related to the Monday night shooting death of a Millbrook man. Rafael Montiel-Perez, 39, of Millbrook was pronounced dead at a Montgomery hospital after having been in a two-vehicle accident. Police and medics responded to the 600 block of North Pass Drive around 9 p.m. after receiving a report someone had been shot. Detectives determined Montiel-Perez drove from the shooting scene and then collided with another vehicle. No arrests have been made yet in connection with his death. Anyone who has any information regarding the shooting is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 215-STOP or 334-262-4000 or 334-625-2831.
See MILES • Page 2
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