Kharon Davis Trial

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 3773

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Sep 22 2017 10:35 PM

DOTHAN - HOUSTON COUNTY:     A case that caught national attention is almost to a close in the 20th Judicial Circuit Court. But the case is far from over.

With the juries verdict of GUILTY of the lesser included charge of felony murder Kharon Davis has escaped life without the chance of parole.

This evening Defense Attorney Dustin Fowler said " we accept the verdict of the jury. Not happy with the verdict but we accept and respect their findings." Fowler went on to say " 20th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Kevin Moulton did a excellant job in presiding over the case".

Fowler did say following sentencing the defense would appeal the jury verdict. Davis has 10 years in the Houston County Jail served. The sentence range, because there was a weapon involved, is a minimum of 20 years to life. Sentencing is set on October 17th.

RICKEY COMMENTS

This case was prolonged for several reasons. One was in the beginning when Court Appointed Attorney Ben Meredith realized his son was a lead investigator with Dothan Police Department. That caused Meredith to withdraw and other attorneys to be appointed.

Then the defendant, Kharon Davis, would become unhappy with his attorneys and fire them. That caused difficulties for the trial Judge.

In Capital Murder cases, normally bond is not allowed. When appointing attorneys there are required to be two attorneys with a minimum of 5 years In practice.  Judge Moulton, in abudance of caution to be fair, appointed three attorneys to represent Mr. Davis.

This case caused a stir in the community. In this case 20th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Kevin Moulton was critisizeD. But that criticism was unwarranted but a Judge has to shut up and take it. Because under the Judicial Canon of Ethics Judges are prohibited from speaking about pending cases.

Judge Moulton is to be commended in the manner in which he maintained control over this case and over the courtroom. When questions were raised the Judge needed to research, he would call a recess, exit to his chambers, pull the law and study the issue before making a ruling. That is all a defendant or prosecution can ask for. Is caution and fairness before rendering a decision.

The delays in this case WERE NOT the fault of the trial Judge, Judge Moulton. In fact, in my opinion, a lot of the delays were defense strategies on the part of Mr. Davis.

Judge Moulton had a awesome responsibility and the citizens of Houston and Heney County can be proud of the manner of which things were handled.

Will there be issues to be appealed? Always are in these type cases and this is no exception.

HOUSTON COUNTY SHERIFF DONALD VALENZA

Last week Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza was personally in the courthouse meeting with courtroom security, Judge Moulton, Circuit Clerk Carla Woodall and others making sure all security details were in place.

On Monday morning Sheriff Valenza arrived at the courthouse early dressed in full uniform. Sheriff Valenza and deputies made sure all persons, involved in this case and others, were safe and secure and nothing happened.

If you were not aware this was a high profile case, from the outside you could not tell.

GOOD JOB to all involved.

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