Foster dad pleads guilty to child sex crimes in Lauderdale County

One of the suspects in one of the worst child abuse cases ever for the Shoals has pleaded guilty.

More >> Foster dad pleads guilty to child sex crimes in Lauderdale County

• Former foster parent pleads to 14 counts of abuse

State lawmakers voted to force ‘chemical castration’ on sex offenders. Medical experts urge caution.

A bill in Alabama awaiting the governor’s signature would require people convicted of certain sex offenses to undergo “chemical castration” as a condition of parole — a requirement meant to keep perpetrators from committing similar crimes.

The proposed law, passed by the state legislature, says a judge must order anyone convicted of a sex offense involving a child under the age of 13 to start receiving testosterone-inhibiting medication a month before their release from prison. Most offenders would have to pay for their treatment, which would be administered by the Department of Public Health, until a judge decides the medication is no longer necessary.

More >> State lawmakers voted to force ‘chemical castration’ on sex offenders. Medical experts urge caution.

Alabama won't air 'Arthur' gay marriage episode

Alabama Public Television says it won't air an episode of the children's show "Arthur" that featured a same-sex marriage.

"Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone" aired as the premiere for the show's 22nd season on May 13. But not in Alabama.

More >> Alabama won't air 'Arthur' gay marriage episode

Judge dismisses lawsuit against foster couple in infant's death

A Calhoun County judge on Friday dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit against a pair of foster parents in Saks.

More >> Judge dismisses lawsuit against foster couple in infant's death

Alabama Father killed during child custody exchange

A father is dead after a shooting during a custody exchange in the parking lot of a police station on Christmas day in Hamilton.

According to Hamilton Police, Joe Garcia has been identified as the victim.

More >> Alabama Father killed during child custody exchange

Lawsuit challenges Alabama’s method of electing judges

A trial has begun in a lawsuit challenging Alabama's practice of electing appellate judges by statewide vote, a method that plaintiffs say results in all-white courts in a state where one in four people is African-American.

The trial began this week in federal court in Montgomery and is expected to last several more days.

More >> Lawsuit challenges Alabama’s method of electing judges

Huntsville Woman Sentenced For Adoption Fraud

A Huntsville woman who defrauded a couple who wanted to adopt her unborn child was given jail time, 10 years probation and ordered to pay about $13,000 in restitution.

Meryann Lomae, 34, pleaded guilty Tuesday (Nov. 6) in Benton County Circuit Court to defrauding a prospective adoptive parent.
More >> Huntsville Woman Sentenced For Adoption Fraud

Family of foster mother fatally strangled by teen settles lawsuit with DHR

The family of a former Montgomery teacher who was fatally strangled by her 14-year-old foster son last year has settled a lawsuit with the Alabama Department of Human Resources.

More >> Family of foster mother fatally strangled by teen settles lawsuit with DHR

Alleged foster parent rapist back in Florence for court

A foster parent facing more than 70 child sex abuse charges is back in Florence.

Daniel Spurgeon and his wife were originally facing 700 charges together. On Monday he pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect to 76 charges.

More >> Alleged foster parent rapist back in Florence for court

Foster dad in child sex crime case extradited to Shoals

Daniel Spurgeon, the man indicted on hundreds of child sex abuse charges in Lauderdale County, was extradited from Florida on Friday.

Spurgeon and his wife, Jenise Spurgeon, are accused of multiple sex crimes against foster children who were in their care while they were in the Shoals.

More >> Foster dad in child sex crime case extradited to Shoals

Abuse reports shut down his Alabama boys home. Now he's opened another in Missouri

The religious home for young boys promises to be a safe haven for those struggling with drugs, alcohol or a "rebellious spirit."

On the website of The Joshua Home — in Pineville, Mo., south of Joplin — anonymous parents credit "Brother" Gary Wiggins and his wife, Meaghan, with turning their sons' lives around through Christian study, prayer and love.

More >> Abuse reports shut down his Alabama boys home. Now he's opened another in Missouri

Montgomery family court judge suspended without pay

A Montgomery Family Court judge has been reprimanded and suspended without pay after the Alabama Court of the Judiciary (COJ) decided on her punishment Friday afternoon, following a week of testimony.

Judge Anita Kelly‘s suspension will last 180 days, but can be reversed at the 90-day mark if she follows specific instructions from the court.

More >> Montgomery family court judge suspended without pay

Trial begins for Montgomery Family Court Judge Anita Kelly

The fate of Montgomery County Family Judge Anita Kelly is now in the hands of the Court of the Judiciary, who is presiding over a trial over Kelly’s alleged violations of the Cannons of Judicial Ethics. 

The Judicial Inquiry Commission, which investigates complaints against Alabama judges, filed a more than two hundred page complaint against Kelly in 2017, alleging she violated six Cannons of Judicial Ethics, citing six charges connected to systemic delays in her family court proceedings. 

More >> Trial begins for Montgomery Family Court Judge Anita Kelly

Mother sues DHR, caseworkers in death of her daughter, a Montgomery foster mom

The mother of a beloved Montgomery, Ala. teacher filed a lawsuit against Alabama foster care administrators at the Alabama Department of Human Resources (ADHR) and case workers on Wednesday.

Valetta Robinson filed the suit Montgomery County over what she considers the wrongful death of her daughter, Porscha Echols, who was reportedly strangled to death last year by her 14 year old foster son.

More >> Mother sues DHR, caseworkers in death of her daughter, a Montgomery foster mom

Man accused of sexually abusing foster child in Rainbow City, more victims possible

RAINBOW CITY, Ala. (WIAT) —  A Rainbow City man is accused of sexually abusing a teenage foster child he helped care for, and police say there could be more victims.

Donald Eugene Kelley, 49, is charged with second-degree sodomy, but the investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible.

More >> Man accused of sexually abusing foster child in Rainbow City, more victims possible

Foster parent accused of sexually abusing male juvenile

Rainbow City police arrested a foster parent with a network of foster homes and charged him with sexual abuse of a male juvenile, according to Rainbow City Police Chief Jonathon Horton.

Donald Eugene Kelley, 49, of Rainbow City, turned himself in at the Etowah County Detention Center after Det. Je’Michael Bonner obtained a warrant charging him with second-degree sodomy.

More >> Foster parent accused of sexually abusing male juvenile

Hoover foster mom charged with aggravated child abuse now out on bond

Hoover foster mom charged with aggravated child abuse now out on bond

More >> Hoover foster mom charged with aggravated child abuse now out on bond

Court documents show foster child filed complaint against the Spurgeons while in Alabama

Two foster parents from the Shoals are accused of hurting the children they were supposed to protect.

Florence police charged Daniel and Jenise Spurgeon with almost 700 counts of child abuse, sex abuse, rape, sodomy, sexual torture and human trafficking in March 2017.

More >> Court documents show foster child filed complaint against the Spurgeons while in Alabama

Woman facing hundreds of child abuse charges to get bail

A former foster parent charged with more than 300 criminal offenses against children in her care had her bail set Tuesday at $2 million by an Alabama judge.

More >> Woman facing hundreds of child abuse charges to get bail

'I have a scar on my toe where he dug a drill into it'

The daughter of Florida foster parents who were charged last month with nearly 700 counts related to sex crimes and child abuse has detailed shocking allegations of torture involving a drill, melted candle wax and duct tape.

More >> 'I have a scar on my toe where he dug a drill into it'