DOTHAN: 09:39 AM Sharier AlQuan Caesar (25) of Greenville, North Carolina, the suspect in the attempted murder on Sunday at Wiregrass Commons Mall is in custody of Dothan Police Department.
Attorney Chris Williams, who Caesar turned himself into, turned him into Dothan Police Department this morning.
More details are expected to be released later.
UPDATED @ 11:51 AM
The suspect and attorney turned in at Houston County Sheriff Department at 411 N. Oates Street. Houston County Sheriff Captain James Ivey had a Houston County Sheriff Deputy transport the suspect to the Dothan Police Headquarters and turned custody over to Dothan Police.
After questioning and processing at Dothan Police the suspect will be transported to the Houston County Jail. All felonies aer required to be placed in the county jails. The Dothan Police policy, even when they arrest on a felony, they book into the Dothan City Jail first, in order for them to have their own set of arrest report, data on the person, fingerprints, pphotographs and DNA. After the processing the person on a felony is then transported to Houston County Jail where they process and if they have a bond, they can make bond. Most likely this case has a no bond. Within 72 hours of arrest the defendant will appear in before Houston County District Court Judge Benjamin Lewis for first appearance. He will be advised of his rights, the charges against him, can he afford an attorney and if not one will be appointed for him. If no bond or a bond he can not afford, his attorney can request a bond hearing which are normally held on Thursday’s. The defendant, or attorney has 30 days from arrest to request a preliminary hearing which is only a probale cause hearing. The rules of evidence do not apply in a preliminary hearing. Probably a crime was committed and probably this person did it. A preliminary hearing is only a fact finding hearing,not a innocent/guilty hearing.
When Dothan Police arrest on a misdemeanor offense, they are booked also into the Dothan City Jail. But can make bond at Dothan City Jail.
It gets confusing: Misdemeanor cases, unless as a companion to a felony, go to Dothan Municipal Court located at 210 N. St. Andrews. Felony cases go to Houston County Jail and then either in District or Circuit Court. If arrested on view or an arrest warrant – the case begins in District Court beofre Judge Lewis. In Alabama, all felonies must go before Grand Jury ( which in my opinion is a waste of time and money ), and if indicted the case goes to Circuit Court with one of the 5 Circuit Court Judges.
WHY IS GRAND JURY A WASTE? A group of 18 people, in a private room, secret, hear testimony from the prosecution. No defense witnesses. The defendant has the right to appear before the Grand Jury, but the the defendant attorney can not be present but the prosecutor can be. So no matter guilty or innocent, a person is a fool to appear without his legal counsel and the prosecutor can extract things to use against you. And court is seldom about the truth! The forperson of the Grand Jury is often times not aware, they are in charge and can tell the prosecutor to step outside. It is not the District Attorney who is to legally run the Grand Jury but the forperson. The District Attorney can not be in Grand Jury when they vote to indict. But if you hear only one side of the story, a Grand Jury can indict a ant for eating an elephant. But that is Alabama Law.
Remember, the United States spent $ 50 million dollars trying to indict President Bill Clinton. In Alabama, for less than $ 50 dollars, we could have had him indicted and probably on death row!!!
Sorry system,if it offends you, prove I am wrong.
Now if you are arrested on a Grand Jury indictment and had not been arrested, your case begins directly in Circuit Court.
Just a little info on how the system works.
