25th Judicial Circuit

HAMILTON - Circuit Court Judge Daryl Burt will run unopposed in his first election to become one of two circuit court judges for the 25th Judicial Circuit.
Burt was appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey in February 2018 to his current position as circuit judge of the Alabama’s 25th Judicial Circuit, which covers Marion and Winston counties. He was selected by the governor to finish out the last three years of former judge John Bentley’s term, who was elected in 2014 and retired after 15 years on the bench.

HAMILTON -  Double-homicide suspect Jimmy Cooper is back in the Marion County Jail in Hamilton after returning from a nine-month stay at the Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility in Tuscaloosa.
Marion County Sheriff Kevin Williams confirmed with the Journal Record that Cooper was booked back into the jail on Thursday, Oct. 10.  

HAMILTON - A Marion County jury has issued a “not guilty” verdict for a woman accused of assaulting her then-boyfriend with her vehicle.
According to court documents provided by Marion County Circuit Clerk Denise Mixon, on Tuesday, Sept. 10, in 25th Judicial Circuit Court held in the Marion County Courthouse in Hamilton, Stacey Nicole Harris, Hamilton, was found not guilty on all of her charges. Those included first-, second- and third-degree domestic violence and first-, second- and third-degree assault.

BRILLIANT -   A former school bus driver employed with the Marion County School System was arrested on Sept. 12 and charged with violating the Alabama law that prohibits school employees from having sexual intercourse with students who are under the age of 19.
Ethan Corkren, 29, Brilliant, was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 12, on the charge of a school employee having sex with a student.

HAMILTON - 25th Judicial District Attorney Scott Slatton has announced that the chief investigator position left vacant since 2016 has now been filled.
Lt. Rusty Hulsey, formerly the chief investigator at the Winfield Police Department, has been hired to fill the position.
The position has been vacant since 2016 when Gov. Kay Ivey appointed the former 25th Judicial chief investigator Tommy Moore as sheriff of Winston County.
Slatton said having no chief investigator in his office has hindered his ability to investigate cases.

HAMILTON - Rape and sodomy charges have been dismissed for a Hamilton man.
On Thursday, June 3, 25th Judicial Circuit Judge Lee Carter dismissed charges  against 21-year-old Denzel Mitchell, who had been accused of rape and sodomy.
 Those charges were dismissed following a hand- written letter filed in court in March by the alleged victim, who wrote on a piece of notebook paper, “I do not want to pursue the case.”
The girl who pressed charges against Mitchell will remain unnamed as she was under the age of 18 when the incident occurred.

DOUBLE SPRINGS - A Hamilton native’s trial has been dismissed due to misconduct by prosecutors, according to Winston County court records.
 On Thursday, Feb. 21, in 25th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Lee Carter granted a mistrial motion and dismissed with prejudice the case of the State of Alabama v. Jarod Chase Cantrell.
The state has a right to appeal this decision.