Blanchards mother, Angela Harris, attended Tuesdays sentencing as a character witness for Hughes. Another figure in Sandler's story was former Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes. This article was published 19/01/2022 (364 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. "I have reluctantly come to accept that I will never be the person I once was. Former Lee Co. DA sentenced to jail for violating ethics law while in office. He said it was his wife who started what he described during the trial as "World War Three" in their kitchen. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). Lee County has a new district attorney after Brandon Hughes conviction. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. In total, the judge sentenced Hughes to three years, split to serve ten months. The children of a woman who was killed before the Brandon home she shared with her husband was destroyed in an explosion remembered their mom Wednesday as a kind and compassionate woman, with a love of baking and helping others. Hughes abruptly entered a plea agreement in this case on the second day of his trial in June 2021. . In December, Robert Hughes, 65, was found guilty by a jury of 12 people of. On Oct. 22, Brandon firefighters responded to the property after it blew up. On Aug. 25, several people confronted a man at a park in the 3100 block of Baltimore Avenue, near East 30th . You have permission to edit this article. He said Betty was a great person who will be missed, while maintaining his version of events as presented at the trial. His. Misuse of the information in this website may subject the user to criminal prosecution and/or civil liability. Hughes testified he then wanted to take his own life, so he tampered with a gas line in the basement with the intention to breathe it in and die. Hughes was on trial for five ethics violations, perjury and conspiracy to commit theft. All rights reserved. Testimony during the trial described Hughess office as a frat house where employees drank alcohol on site and played video game consoles, pointing to an abuse of trust and taxpayer dollars. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. In June, Hughes pleaded guilty to first-degree perjury and using his public office for personal gain. The Alabama Supreme Court appointed retired Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Pamela Baschab to preside over the case. In December of 2019, Hughes announced his office was seeking the death penalty in this case. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). I have read the disclaimer and agree to all of these terms and conditions. The defense said those actions werent illegal and didnt hurt Hughess job performance. Hey there, time traveller! Overcast Wednesday Afternoon; Strong Storms Tomorrow Morning, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell tests positive for COVID-19, has 'mild' symptoms, working from home, Man Charged with Murder in Narrow Lane Road Shooting, Pay It Forward: Eddie Brooks, Jr. of Uniontown. She said she is still seeking a therapist who can help her cope. Hughes to be sentenced for second-degree murder in May, Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies. 5 Auburn gymnastics takes on No. Farnworth, was sentenced to a 7pm to 7am curfew for eight weeks. Taylor, 19, has been in jail at the Lee County Justice Center since Dec. 13 when he was booked for parole violation after testing positive for marijuana. When they arrived, the walls of the house were blown out and Manitoba Hydro had to turn off the natural gas line. . Source by: Stringr, No person is above the law, Matson said. Brandon Police Service Const. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! Hughes was convicted in November of first-degree murder in the slayings of Jackson, 32; Yvonne Coleman, 15; and Verna Williams, 36. Hughes alleged there was a prolonged struggle with his wife in the kitchen of their house, which he said was like World War III. At the time, the two were in a strained relationship. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Brandon Hughes turned himself in Thursday to start his 10-month sentence at the Lee County Detention Center. 2 Florida, Just incredible: Pearl celebrates success of his former players, Auburn gymnastics moves to No. A judge has scheduled sentencing for a former Alabama prosecutor who pleaded guilty to felony charges earlier this year. Prior to Hughess suspension, he was directly involved in the prosecution of Ibraheem Yazeed, charged with kidnapping and capital murder in connection to the death of Homewood teen Aniah Blanchard. Sentencing for former Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes has been postponed from its original date of Tuesday following the Monday death of a law clerk for the defense, according to Richard White, an attorney for Hughes. His defense requested he serve a non-custodial sentence in a community corrections program, which was denied. Hes also required to pay back the Lee County District Attorneys Fund $14,000 in legal fees related to the use of public office for personal gain charge. 5 Auburn gymnastics takes on No. Blanchards mother, Angela Harris, attended Tuesdays sentencing as a character witness for Hughes. Eventually, the two ended up on the kitchen floor and Betty was dead. CDCR makes no representation, express or implied, that the information on this site is complete, timely or accurate. Opelika police identify, charge theft suspects after month investigation, WATCH: Funeral services underway for UGA staffer Chandler LeCroy, Columbus police searches to ID suspect from McDonalds theft, Columbus Police Department searching for hit and run suspect, Harris County community anticipates free health fair in Hamilton, Harris Co. School District, Mercer Medicine set to launch new telehealth program, Swim instructor arrested in 4-year-old Izzy Scott drowning, $14,000 from his offices official budget. The case was prosecuted by the Alabama Attorney Generals Special Prosecutions Division lead by Clark Morris, which specializes in ethics violations and public corruption. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Firefighters then saw Hughes with a noose around his neck in the destroyed house, the court heard. Alex Hosey, Former Lee County District Attorney. SUMMARY 2022 Career WAR 1.4 1.4 W 2 2 L 3 3 ERA 3.12 3.12 Unauthorized attempts to change the information in this website are strictly prohibited and may be subject to criminal prosecution and/or civil liability. See the criminal sentencing guidelines in action on this unique criminal sentence database - crime and criminal sentences with statute and common law - updated daily and linking through to the legal teams involved in the criminal court case. Hughess convictions stem from giving false information to a Lee County Grand Jury and using $14,000 from his offices official budget to litigate a settlement in a sex discrimination claim filed against him by a female prosecutor who was a former employee. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The State of Alabama opposes this motion. An Opelika man has been arrested in connection to a shooting incident that allegedly occurred Monday morning at Piggly Wiggly located at 1515 . Hes now obligated to repay those misused funds. 7 with two road scores, Date set for capital murder trial of man accused of murdering Auburn police officer in 2019, District judge revokes bond of man charged in Bramblett deaths, Opelika police ask for help identifying to female suspects allegedly involved in theft from Best Buy, Auburn Police arrest two juveniles on burglary and theft charges, Opelika man arrested in connecting to shooting incident at Piggly Wiggly, In Vienna, balls are back with a bang after a two-year pandemic-induced hiatus, Why Floridas manatees are dying off at record pace, 45 dead, 20 still missing as Ukraine ends tower block search, Fed official says rate hikes are beginning to work. In December, Robert Hughes, 65, was found guilty by a jury of 12 people of killing his wife, Betty Hughes, before their east end house blew up. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Hughes, 47, turned himself in to the Lee County Sheriffs Office on Nov. 8, 2020, on multiple felony charges, which included five counts of using a position for personal gain, one count of conspiracy to commit theft and one count of first-degree perjury. A man convicted of attempted murder for opening fire on a rival gang member on the USC campus sobbed in court Friday as he was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison. Robert, addressing the court, described his wife's death as the "worst possible outcome. "Mr. Hughes recognizes that he could have behaved differently," saidSimmonds, adding there was no prior suggestion of abuse or violence of any kind by his client. Vanderhooft said Wednesday the Crown is seeking a sentence of 17 years without parole, saying Hughes's actions were "reckless" and he has shown no remorse. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Copyright 2021 WBRC. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). The defense said those actions werent illegal and didnt hurt Hughess job performance. We want to commend the career prosecutors and staff of the Lee County DAs office for their commitment to justice and maintaining that office in a professional manner over this very difficult year.. While Hughes previously had been suspended from office as a result of his indictment, the courts acceptance of his plea of guilty caused his removal from office as a matter of law. The explosion on Oct. 22, 2019, left the Hughes's Brandon house in ruins. After pleading guilty, Hughes asked specially appointed Lee County Circuit Judge Pamela Baschab to spare him prison time, claiming that a community corrections program would allow him to continue to provide for his family and pay restitution to the state in his case. The user shall assume all risk and responsibility, and neither the user nor any third parties acting on behalf of, or with the consent of the user, may rely upon any information contained in this website. Hes now obligated to repay those misused funds. Under the plea agreement, Hughes has agreed to a three-year sentence for both counts, split to serve ten months in jail. The defenceis seeking a period of 10 years before parole eligibility. He pleaded not guilty to the charge. His defense requested he serve a non-custodial sentence in a community corrections program, which was denied. Starting at $14.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL) - The trial of former Lee County Attorney Brandon Hughes comes to an abrubt halt, even before the jury heard all the testimony. Lumber prices are increasing daily and it's impacting the prices of new homes. Help me with the promise I made to my kids in the hospital," he said, adding he hopes his kids believe his version of events. In total, the judge sentenced Hughes to three years, split to serve ten months. All rights reserved (About Us). Both the Crown and defence agreed that the explosion was caused by the Hughes's actions. Hughes originally pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him, but after the second day of trial pleaded guilty to first-degree perjury and one count of using his public office for personal gain and agreed to a three-year sentence for both counts. Hughes pleaded guilty to first-degree perjury and using his public office for personal gain Thursday. If you believe any information in this site is in error, please contact the CDCR Identification Unit at (916) 445-6713. Blanchards mother, Angela Harris, attended Tuesdays sentencing as a character witness for Hughes. Hes now obligated to repay those misused funds. April 19, 2014 12 AM PT. CDCR, the State of California, and any elected officials, officers, agents, or employees are not liable for any improper or incorrect use of the information contained in this website. Hughes was sentenced Tuesday for violating the state's ethics laws and committed. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Now, more than ever, we need your support. His defense requested he serve a non-custodial sentence in a community corrections program, which was denied. Adam told the court that his mom was a kind, selfless and compassionate woman, who was known for her love of baking, and for her compassion and selflessness toward others. "My children are very young. The sentencing hearing will be to determine how many years in prison he must serve before he is eligible for parole. A Lee County Sheriffs Deputy is said to be recovering from exposure to a hazardous substance that investigators said could have been Fentanyl. According to Hughess sentencing order filed Monday, the former district attorney will spend 10 months in the Lee County Jail followed by two years of unsupervised probation. Former Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes was sentenced Tuesday for violating the state's ethics laws and committing perjury while in office. Hughes was originally suspended as district attorney after his indictment in 2020 and has been removed from public office as a result of his conviction. During Hughes's trial,Crown and defence lawyers gave very different versions about what happened in the Hughes home the night of the explosion. LEE COUNTY, Ala. (WTVM) - Former Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes will have to wait a little longer to be sentenced. A second-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison. All rights reserved (About Us). If you need an inmate's conviction information, you may contact the court or jurisdiction. Both Carr and McNeely had pleaded guilty on December 28, 2021. Hughes, who on June 24 agreed to a three-year sentence for two felony counts, including first-degree perjury and using his public office for personal gain, was expected to spend at least 10 months in jail according to his plea agreement, but on Sept. 8 he submitted a motion to avoid jail time in favor of a community corrections program along with two years of unsupervised probation. Hughes was indicted on all seven charges by a Special Lee County Grand Jury on Nov. 6, 2020. "My mom was always there for me in the best of times and the worst of times," said Adam Hughes, the couple's son, ina victim impact statement delivered in Brandon's Court of Queen's Bench on Wednesday, as part of Robert Hughes's sentencing hearing. Judge Pamela Baschab set a hearing on Oct. 5 for former Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes, who pleaded guilty in June to perjury and using his office for person gain, WTVM-TV reported. In addition to the potential prison time and fees, Hughes, who was suspended from his office after being charged, was removed from the district attorneys office upon the courts acceptance of his guilty plea, the attorney generals office said. It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. You can cancel at any time. Hughes plea deal includes a three-year sentence, split to serve 10 months in jail. by | In . The Opelika Police Department asks for the publics assistance in identifying two suspects allegedly involved in a theft. His defense requested he serve a. "Ihave struggled to receive that support. Prior to Hughess suspension, he was directly involved in the prosecution of Ibraheem Yazeed, charged with kidnapping and capital murder in connection to the death of Homewood teen Aniah Blanchard. Betty Hughes, 63, was killed in October 2019 before the home in Brandon's Green Acres neighbourhood she shared with her husband, Robert Hughes, blew up. But Baschab rejected the request, ordering the former prosecutor to report to the Lee County Detention Facility within 48 hours. Simmonds said Robert is dealing with back problems and issues with blood clots, and has been seeking medical attention while in prison. They will grow up without both grandparents.". Suspended Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes stands in a Lee County courtroom during his trial on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, in Opelika. Tuesday's sentencing was postponed due to a medical emergency . "My wish is that someone in this case would listen to her dying words. He will also be required to pay back the $14,000 in public funds he used for legal fees to settle a sexual discrimination lawsuit, and he will also be required to pay restitution to a Chambers County business related to his conspiracy to commit theft charge which was dismissed, according to the state. His defense requested he serve a non-custodial sentence in a community corrections program, which was denied. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Defence lawyer SaulSimmondstold the court that it was Betty who started an altercation in the home, and she ultimately stabbed herself with one of Robert's utility knives as the couple fought in their kitchen. The people of Lee County and all Alabama citizens expect and deserve the highest ethical standards and professionalism from every person in the criminal justice system, especially prosecutors. If Hughes violates the terms of his sentence he will be required to serve 3 years. Hughess convictions stem from giving false information to a Lee County Grand Jury and using $14,000 from his offices official budget to litigate a settlement in a sex discrimination claim filed against him by a female prosecutor who was a former employee. Former Lee Co. DA sentenced to jail for violating ethics law while in office, Reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley report to prison, Gov. A split sentence is hard time and isnt subject to parole. All rights reserved. Alaska State Troopers identify polar bear mauling victims as a young mother and her 1-year-old son. 5 Auburn shines in spots at No. A man found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of his wife is scheduled to be sentenced for the crime in May. Responding officers said they confirmed that forced entry had been made into the business. Connection to a hazardous substance that investigators said could have been Fentanyl his 10-month sentence the! 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