DOTHAN: These court cases are scheduled in the 20th Judicial Circuit in Houston and Henry County Alabama:
Note: Juvenile court doesn’t have Public Records. Judge Lori Collier Ingram and Judge Henry “D” Butch Binford Handle all Juvenile Cases.
Note: Domestic Violence is not always an abuse case; they could be seeking Petition for Custody and Petition to Modify.
HOUSTON COUNTY:
HONORABLE HOUSTON COUNTY DISTRICT-CRIMINAL COURT JUDGE BENJAMIN LEWIS: Each morning has initial appearances. These are people who have not made a bond. They are required to be seen by a Judge or Magistrate within 48 to 72 hours of their arrest. Judge Lewis follows the law; even when on holiday he or another Judge comes to the Houston County Jail for initial appearances.
These Persons are seen via a TV screen from the jail to the courtroom.
HONORABLE HOUSTON COUNTY DISTRICT-CRIMINAL JUDGE BENJAMIN LEWIS: Has Domestic Relation
with 10 cases for Protection from Abuse. He also had District-Civil with 4 cases for Unlawful Detainer. In
District-Criminal he has 20 cases ranging from Making Terrorist Threats, Sexual Abuse 2nd, Possess Marijuana
2nd, and Use/Possess Drug Par.
HONORABLE HOUSTON COUNTY CIRCUIT-CRIMINAL JUDGE LARRY K ANDERSON: Has Circuit-Criminal
with 5 cases for Obstructing Govt Operations, Resisting Arrest, Possess Marijuana 2nd, Rec Stolen Prop 4th,
Attempt to Elude.
HONORABLE HOUSTON COUNTY CIRCUIT-CRIMINAL JUDGE R TODD DERRICK: Has Circuit Criminal with
5 cases for Capital Murder-Burglary X 3, Attempt Murder Capital Murder. He also has Domestic Relations
with 1 case for Petition to Modify.
HONORABLE HOUSTON COUNTY CIRCUIT-CRIMINAL JUDGE M JOHN STEENSLAND III: Has Circuit-
Criminal with 1320 cases ranging from Possess/Receipt Cont, Assault 3rd, Burglary 3rd, Theft of Property
1st, Robbery 2nd, Burglary 3rd and Rape 1st. He also has District-Criminal with 7 cases for
Possess/Receipt Cont X 4, Use/Possess Drug Par, Obstruct Justice, Felony DV Crim Misch.
HONORABLE HOUSTON COUNTY DISTRICT-CRIMINAL JUDGE LORI COLLER INGRAM: Has Child Support
with 1 case for Petition to Modify.
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against two Dothan Police officers who briefly detained an independent journalist for filming inside a state building.
George Metz II filed suit in 2021, saying Officers D. Bridges and J. Dodson violated his rights and illegally detained him after he was filming inside the lobby of the Department of Human Resources in Dothan.
Metz claimed his rights were violated when the officers demanded his ID, handcuffed him and searched him.
Court documents revealed Metz had been asked to leave the building multiple times. He and another person with him were detained for about an hour but not arrested or charged with any crimes.
The officers believed Metz was trespassing, according to court documents.
Alabama is also a “stop and identify” state, meaning police are allowed to stop and request information from people in public places whom officers reasonably suspect of committing a crime.
The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama originally ruled the officers could be held personally liable for their actions, but that motion was reversed by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Chief United States District Judge Emily Marks ruled in favor of the officers and the City of Dothan, also named in the lawsuit, thus closing the case.
REHOBETH: Allegations against a ROTC Instructor have surfaced at Rehobeth High School.
The ROTC Instructor has been placed on Administrative Leave pending the investigation.
The School and Houston County School Superintendent, Brandy White, cannot speak about personnel matters. There are legal steps which must be taken. The first is placing the faculty member on Administrative Leave pending the investigation when serious allegations are made. Following the investigation the Superintendent may take action which could include termination. Once the action is taken the employee has 15 days to request a hearing, and the hearing is normally held within 30 days.
RSN has learned the allegations are serious. These are independent allegations we have learned, not from “official sources.” The first allegation is the ROTC Instructor encouraged a female student to seek emancipation from her father in order for the ROTC Instructor to adopt the female student.
When a employee is placed on Administrative Leave they are not to have any contact with any students. RSN has learned there are allegations the ROTC Instructor has continued to attempt to contact the female student. In addition, RSN has been told the ROTC Instructor has alleged to have contacted or attempted to contact other students, apparently soliciting their support if the Superintendent recommends termination from Houston County Schools.
The Superintendent and school officials were very firm they cannot discuss personnel matters. In fact, we have learned over time the School Board acts as a jury when a decision is appealed. Therefore, the investigation and decision are up to the Superintendent and presented to the Board when appealed.
Again, we have described allegations made to RSN concerning this particular ROTC Instructor. These are very serious allegations and if they are in fact true, the consequences could be serious.
While the school officials cannot confirm, RSN has researched the matter and felt these were serious. And if in fact the allegations are true, this ROTC Instructor has continued to contact other students, RSN would encourage parents to talk to their children, and if contact has been made, the Superintendent or Sheriff’s School Resource Deputy should be notified. (Not saying law enforcement is involved at this point).
It appears once these allegations surfaced, Houston County Schools Superintendent Brandy White wasted no time in placing the ROTC Instructor on Administrative Leave and launching an investigation.
ATLANTA: The World’s Busiest Airport – Hartfield – Jackson Atlanta Airport, a inside look.
The airport sits on 5,000 acres, employees 63,000 people, 2 million passengers a week, 2,700 flights landing/taling off a day. The Atlanta airport moves 14.9 million bags a year, has 23 miles of underground jet fuel pipes across the airport to keep the jets fueled. The Atlanmta airport moves 104 million passengers a day.
A complete underground baggage system to make sure luggages go with the flights. Air traffic controllers controlllinh 5 landing / departure strips. The Atlanta airport is home to Delta Airlines.
This video is one hour and six minutes long. But it takes an indepth look into a organized machine, the airport, how they operate to move people and flights on time.
The Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a discussion on the state of the city and the county, with Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba and Houston County Commission Chairman Brandon Shoupe.
The event is Feb. 6 at 7:20 a.m. at the Chamber of Commerce, at 102 Jamestown Blvd. in Dothan.
Individual session tickets are $60. Contact Alicia Etheredge at aetheredge@dothan.com or 334-792-5138 to purchase tickets.
