CULLMAN, Ala. – The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals this week affirmed convictions and sentences in three 2025 Cullman County criminal cases, according to Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker.
Crocker said the affirmed cases involved John Wesley Drozda, Anthony Ray Beasley and Barry William Landers. In a late Friday night post, Crocker said Drozda’s murder conviction and 90-year sentence, Beasley’s escape conviction and 50-year sentence and Landers’ probation revocation and 20-year sentence were upheld.
“A big thanks to Cullman sheriff and Cullman Police Department for helping us put these repeat offenders where they belong and out of our community,” Crocker said.
Drozda, 39, of Cullman, was convicted Aug. 21, 2025, of murder in the Sept. 17, 2023, shooting death of Thomas James Brannon, 37, also of Cullman. The shooting happened at approximately 10:55 p.m. near the 200 block of Hickory Avenue Southwest in the city of Cullman. Cullman Police Department Director of Communications Adam Clark said at the time that a male subject was critically injured and the suspect fled the scene. Brannon later died from his injuries.
Drozda was initially described by police as armed and dangerous. He was taken into custody the next afternoon at the Red Roof Inn in Hartselle and charged with reckless murder. A Cullman County grand jury later indicted Drozda for murder.
Following Drozda’s conviction, Crocker said the verdict came after a four-day trial. He credited the Cullman Police Department with responding to the scene within two minutes, investigating the shooting, recovering the murder weapon and tracking down Drozda after he left Cullman. Cullman County Circuit Judge Emily Niezer Johnston sentenced Drozda on Oct. 1, 2025, to 90 years in prison.
Beasley, 54, of Cullman, was convicted April 3, 2025, of second-degree escape. The case stemmed from Beasley’s Oct. 17, 2019, escape from the Cullman County Detention Center. He was indicted on the escape charge in September 2020.
Crocker, Assistant District Attorney Nathan Brock and Assistant District Attorney Michael Burleson prosecuted Beasley’s case in Johnston’s courtroom. After the verdict, Crocker thanked Cullman County deputies and Sheriff Matt Gentry, who testified at trial, and said the case helped clear a backlog of older criminal cases.
Beasley was sentenced May 6, 2025, to 50 years in prison. Crocker said at the time that Beasley was a three-time convicted felon and said the sentence was intended to send a message that escape cases would be treated as public safety matters. Johnston presided over the trial and sentencing, and Beasley was represented by attorney Melvin Hasting.
Landers, 41, of Bremen, had his probation revoked Nov. 12, 2025, by then Cullman County Circuit Court Judge Gregory Nicholas and was ordered to serve 20 years in prison. The case stemmed from a 2022 burglary case in the Brushy Pond community. According to a report citing the DA’s office, Landers was arrested on a new receiving stolen property charge while on probation, prompting the revocation.
Tribune arrest reports show Landers was listed Oct. 6, 2025, on charges of receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia. Days later, he was listed with probation violations tied to burglary-residence-force and two counts of auto theft.
Crocker and Assistant District Attorney Tina Burgett prosecuted the revocation hearing. Following the revocation, Crocker said he received more complaints about Landers than anyone while running for district attorney and credited Cullman County deputies for their work on the case.
The DA’s office said the three appellate decisions leave the convictions, sentences and probation revocation in place.
