CULLMAN, Ala. – Terry Lelan Turney, 60, of Arab, was sentenced Wednesday, June 17, to 22 years in prison for burglary and one year for violation of a protection order.
Circuit Court Judge Chad Floyd ordered the sentences to run concurrently, according to Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker. The sentence comes after a Cullman County jury convicted Turney May 12 following a four-day trial.
The convictions stem from Turney’s role in a 2020 home invasion and fire on County Road 222, according to Crocker. The district attorney’s office previously said another defendant in the case had been convicted of arson.
The Tribune previously reported that Turney, then 54, was arrested in connection with the case on charges of second-degree arson, third-degree burglary and violation of a domestic violence protection order. The convictions announced May 12 were for burglary and violation of a domestic violence protection order.
Crocker said his office requested a long sentence under Alabama’s Habitual Felony Offender Act.
“We asked for a long sentence based on the Habitual Felony Offender Act,” Crocker said. “Turney had previous convictions for drugs and for shooting into an occupied dwelling, and has been arrested 31 times. He’s dangerous, violent and just plain mean.”
After Turney’s conviction in May, Crocker said his office would seek an enhanced sentence because of Turney’s criminal history.
“Terry Turney is a habitual offender with a history of using violence to target others,” Crocker said at the time. “With this being his third felony conviction, we will request a significant sentence under the habitual offender law.”
Floyd presided over the trial and sentencing.
After the May conviction, Crocker credited Assistant District Attorneys Tina Burgett and Kerry Baswell, Trial Coordinator Amanda Gosa, the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office, Capt. Phillip Harris, multiple deputies and expert witnesses who assisted during the trial.
Crocker also thanked the victim in the case following Wednesday’s sentencing.
“The most rewarding part of my job is standing with victims and seeing them become unafraid of those who hurt them,” Crocker said. “This victim and others can rest easier knowing Turney will be imprisoned for a long time.”
