Airport Fire Chief Arrested for DUI
Charles Keith Middlebrooks, the Dothan Regional airport fire chief, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence on Saturday November 9th. A copy of the citation shows that Middlebrooks was arrested shortly after he was involved in a one car accident that evening.
The Alabama State Trooper who issued the citation alleges that Middlebrooks “did drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol”. The violation took place on Henry County Road 55 near the intersection of County Road 8. It is not believed that Middlebrooks sustained serious injuries when his pickup truck crashed.
Airport Director Art Morris says that Middlebrooks has a temporary driver’s license until his court date which allows him to continue to operate airport equipment. According to airport policy, if Middlebrooks had been convicted and his license suspended, he would not be allowed to operate the equipment until his license was no longer suspended. Morris believes that even though Middlebrooks made “an error in judgment,” that he is a long term and loyal employee who is “not a drunk.”
Records show that Middlebrooks has been employed at Dothan Regional Airport since 1979 and has served as the fire chief since 1991.
Keith Middlebrooks, 53, is scheduled to appear in court on January 8, 2013.
- Published in DUI
Dothan Man Indicted in Scheme to Defraud Military Sub Contractor
Authorities have accused Stanley P. Phillips, 47, of fraudulently trying to steer $600,000 of a lucrative military contract to a business that could not fulfill the terms of the contract. Phillips is now facing seven counts of wire fraud for his role in the alleged scheme.
Prosecutors claim that Phillips worked as the construction/site manager for a military sub-contractor that was hired to build what is known as a Weak Acetic Recovery Facility at the Holston Army Ammunition Plan in Kingsport, TN. It is believed that Phillips used his position with the sub-contractor to fraudulently steer work on the project to a nursing registry business that he owned. Authorities allege that the main sub-contractor had no knowledge of Phillips’ affiliation with the other company, or the fact that the company was not equipped to perform the work.
If convicted, the maximum penalties for each criminal charge are twenty years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
Stanley P. Phillips’ trial has tentatively been scheduled for December 16, 2013 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
The investigation of this case was handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command. Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Bell is prosecuting the case.
- Published in Criminal Law
Convicted Drug Trafficker Faces New Charges
Dothan Police Sergeant Andy Martin announced on Tuesday that Julia Yvette Williams, 32, had been arrested and charged with felony trafficking of cocaine and felony unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Records show that police charged Williams with trafficking 44 grams of cocaine from her home late last week.
Police seized the drugs after investigators served a search warrant at Williams’ home on October 11th. The arrest was delayed over a month while an ongoing investigation was conducted into the supplier of the narcotics. Williams was released from jail after she posted bail totalling $75,000.
Julia Yvette Williams had previously been charged by Dothan police in 2004 on a similar cocaine trafficking charge. She pleaded guilty and received a 10 year prison sentence. Williams was also ordered to complete a substance abuse program within the state Department of Corrections.
- Published in Criminal Law
Arrests Made in Meth Trafficking Probe
Sherriff’s Captain Antonio Gonzalez reports that an ongoing meth trafficking investigation has resulted in the arrests of four people for allegedly trafficking methamphetamines. Houston County Sheriff’s investigators reportedly seized more than 5 ounces of methamphetamine after serving two search warrants on Friday November 1, 2013.
According to the police statement, one search warrant resulted in the arrest of Jimmy Earl Gentle II, 36, on charges of meth trafficking. Court records show that investigators confiscated 112 grams of meth during this search.
A second search warrant resulted in the arrest of Jeffery Mark Strivarius, 32, and Skylar William Cooper, 28, on meth trafficking charges. Records show that investigators seized over 41 grams of meth in this search that took place at a La Quinta Inn and Suites hotel room.
Investigators also charged Strivarius, of Columbus, Ga., and Cooper, of Seale, with felony unlawful possession of a controlled substance. They were taken to the Houston County Jail and held on bail totaling $1,015,000. Jimmy Earl Gentle II is currently being held at the Houston County Jail on $1 million bail.
Candace Hatcher, 37, became the fourth arrest of this investigation after she was charged with felony unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
The Houston County Sheriff’s Office led this investigation with assistance from the Dothan Police Department and agents with the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
- Published in Criminal Law