Gov. Ivey awards grant to help crime victims navigate the court system
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a $475,016 grant to help Alabama crime victims better navigate the judicial system.
The grant to the...
AG Marshall joins 13-state coalition in suit to stop Biden’s ban on new oil and gas drilling on federal lands
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Attorney General Steve Marshall joined 12 other state attorneys general in filing suit Wednesday to block the Biden administration's ban on...
Foundation: ‘Don’t discriminate against religious schools
Foundation for Moral Law
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Foundation for Moral Law, an Alabama-based nonprofit dedicated to the defense of religious liberty, filed an amicus brief...
Marshall, Aderholt file suit against federal government
Suit claims illegal manipulation and delaying of census data
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, U.S. Representative Robert Aderholt, R- Alabama and two...
Cullman County Circuit Clerk’s Office passes 2015-2020 financial audit
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Circuit Clerk Lisa McSwain reported this week that her office received a clean financial audit report from the Alabama...
2 former AL public school superintendents among 6 charged with fraud related to virtual education
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - On Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, six individuals appeared in court after being indicted on charges related to the fraudulent enrollment of...
Hanceville man charged with murder in DUI death
Updated 1-22-21 1:33 p.m.
CULLMAN, Ala. - A Hanceville man was arrested Jan. 15 after being indicted on six counts by a Cullman County grand...
Looney sentenced to 99 years for attempted murder of Lt. Rex Sorrow
Updated 1-7-21 3:08 p.m.
CULLMAN, Ala. – Rodney Deland Looney, 48, of Cullman County on Thursday was sentenced to 99 years in prison by Cullman...
Justice Dept. files lawsuit against State of AL for unconstitutional conditions in State’s prisons for men
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday filed suit against the State of Alabama and the Alabama Department of Corrections. The...
Cullman County Courts: Dec. 14 jury trial docket postponed
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Presiding Judge Gregory Nicholas on Wednesday issued an order postponing the Dec. 14, 2020 jury trial docket until a...
Woods pleads guilty to lesser charges in human trafficking cases, released with time served
CULLMAN, Ala. - Kenneth Loyd Woods, 53, of Fairview, indicted in 2017 for multiple counts of human trafficking and other crimes, was released Friday,...
Cullman man sentenced to life in prison for 2019 murder in Fayette Co.
FAYETTE COUNTY, Ala. — A Cullman man has been sentenced to life in prison for a 2019 murder in Fayette County. Fayette County District...
AG Marshall announces $60M settlement with Terminix over illegal business practices targeting Alabamians
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Attorney General Steve Marshall on Thursday announced a historic $60 million State settlement with Terminix International in response to the company’s...
Cullman man indicted for attempted murder
CULLMAN, Ala. - Charles Chase Thomas, 29, of Cullman was arrested this week after being indicted by a grand jury in September for attempted...
(Updated) Cullman Co. man found guilty of attempted murder of sheriff’s deputy
Updated 10-21-20 at 6:51 p.m.
CULLMAN, Ala. - Early Wednesday afternoon, Rodney Deland Looney, 48, of Cullman County was found guilty of the 2016 attempted...
Operation Safe Families initiative to combat domestic violence in Alabama
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona on Tuesday announced Operation Safe Families, a new initiative to fight domestic violence in the Northern...
Singleton pleads guilty in $365K theft from Cullman County Fair Association
CULLMAN, Ala. – Stephen L. Singleton, 72, of Cullman, who was charged in February 2020 with the theft of more than $200,000 from the...
Cullman Co. convicted rapist up for parole weeks after being sentenced on new felony charges
Updated 9-29-20 at 5:19 p.m.: Davis' parole was denied.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - David Allen Davis, 31, whose court record indicates addresses in Cullman and Vinemont,...
Rape trial for Hanceville man ends in hung jury
CULLMAN, Ala. - The first-degree rape trial of Wade Allen Waldrop ended in a hung jury late Wednesday afternoon, meaning that the jury could...
Called to order: Cullman County Courts return to in-person jury trials with COVID-19 safety procedures in place
Updated 9-16-20 at 10:50 a.m.
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Circuit Court on Monday began juror selection in its first in-person jury trial since March,...
Cullman County courts lay out new jury procedures
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Presiding Judge Gregory Nicholas, after announcing last week that jury trials would resume the week of Sept. 14 with...
Cullman Courts to resume jury trials week of Sept. 14 with new COVID-19 safety procedures
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Courts announced Friday that, starting in September, jury trials will resume with new procedures in place to decrease the...
Birmingham man indicted for fraud on fallen Huntsville Police officer’s memorial fund
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment last week charging a Birmingham man with fraud on customers of the U.S. Postal...
Federal grand jury indicts 2 for kidnapping resulting in death of 3-year-old Kamille ‘Cupcake’ McKinney
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury on Wednesday indicted two people for kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap a minor victim, announced U.S. Attorney...
U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town announces departure from U.S. Attorney’s Office
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town announced Friday that he will resign from the Department of Justice, effective Wednesday, July 15, 2020,...
Biggs to serve 5 years in DUI deaths of Bremen mother, daughter Tonya and Rhianna Busbee
CULLMAN, Ala. - Jonathan Biggs, 56, of Dayton, Ohio, who was charged with two counts of reckless murder in the 2017 deaths of Tonya...
Autwell pleads guilty in 2018 crash that killed Hanceville woman
CULLMAN, Ala. - Terry Autwell, 28, of Hanceville, pleaded guilty earlier this month to a charge of criminally negligent homicide in the Dec. 10,...
Courts: Brad Meeks appeals conviction in death of Curt Wilson
CULLMAN, Ala. - Bradford Neal Meeks on June 8 submitted a handwritten request to the Cullman County Circuit Court for an appeal of his...
Madison man indicted for possessing pipe bomb
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted a Madison man for possessing a pipe bomb, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town...
Cullman courts to return to limited in-person proceedings May 18
CULLMAN, Ala. - On Wednesday, May 13, the Alabama Supreme Court authorized presiding judges in each circuit across the state to reopen courtrooms for...
(Update) Brad Meeks sentenced to 12 years in death of Curt Wilson, injury of Ashley Wilson
Updated 5-14-20 at 1:36 p.m.
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Circuit Court Judge Gregory Nicholas on Tuesday sentenced Bradford Neal Meeks to 12 years in...
Tyson now facing 5 local, state, federal actions over Hanceville plant spill
HANCEVILLE, Ala. - Almost a year has passed since a June 6, 2019 spill at the Tyson Farms/River Valley Ingredients rendering plant near Hanceville...
(Updated) Lawsuit filed against Tyson over 2019 spills
JASPER, Ala. - Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall on Wednesday filed a lawsuit in the Walker County Circuit Court on behalf of the State,...
Tyson responds to filing of lawsuit by AL attorney general
CULLMAN, Ala. - Tyson Foods on Thursday issued a response to the lawsuit filed Wednesday by the Alabama Attorney General’s Office over two spills...
Breaking News: AL attorney general files suit against Tyson over 2 2019 Mulberry Fork spills
JASPER, Ala. - Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall on Wednesday filed a lawsuit in the Walker County Circuit Court on behalf of the State,...
COVID-19: Updated Cullman Municipal Court information
CULLMAN MUNICIPAL COURT | COVID-19 INFORMATION
(UPDATED 4-22-2020)
RESCHEDULED COURT DATES
All cases set for April 15, 2020 have been reset to May 6, 2020...
Cullman Courts using technology for virtual hearings
CULLMAN, Ala. - During the COVID-19 shutdown, crime and civil problems continue, and so must the courts. On April 6, Cullman County Presiding Judge...
Cullman County Courts issue instructions for child visitation/custody issues during state health emergency
CULLMAN, Ala. - Recently, Cullman County Presiding Judge Gregory Nicholas issued an administrative order governing child custody and visitation issues during the state-declared public...
Despite some Courthouse closures, courts remain open for business
MONTGOMERY, Ala.
- While many courthouses throughout the state are shuttering as a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic, the Courts in Alabama remain open for business....
COVID-19: Cullman Courts clarify postponed cases
CULLMAN, Ala. - After the Alabama Supreme Court issued an order postponing most court activities across the state (see
www.cullmantribune.com/2020/03/14/al-supreme-court-suspends-in-person-court-proceedings-statewide-most-local-cases-continued), Cullman County’s courts issued this...
BREAKING NEWS: Chad Floyd appointed new Cullman County district judge
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Attorney Chad Floyd has been appointed by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey as Cullman County District Judge, Place 1. Ivey’s...
Courts developing plan to continue operation in emergencies
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama judicial authorities on Wednesday instructed courts across the state to begin developing a contingency plan to maintain court operations in...
(Updated) Alabama Court of the Judiciary issues final judgement in case of District Judge Kim Chaney
Updated 2-25-20 at 6:43 p.m. with a copy of the Cullman County Bar resolution supporting Judge Kim Chaney. See the bottom of this article...
(Update) Formal ethics complaint preceded Chaney’s retirement from District Court
CULLMAN, Ala. - State court documents filed eight days before Cullman County District Judge Kim Chaney officially retired Feb. 15, 2020 indicate he is...
(Updated) Cullman Judge Kim Chaney announces retirement
LATEST: https://www.cullmantribune.com/2020/02/19/update-formal-ethics-complaint-preceded-chaneys-retirement-from-district-court/
Updated 2-18-20 5:25 p.m.
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County District Judge Kim Chaney of the 32nd Judicial Circuit, State of Alabama, on Tuesday announced...
Firearm-free Frog Festival?
SUMITON, Ala. - Cullman attorney Champ Crocker on Feb. 6, 2020 filed a lawsuit against Sumiton Mayor Petey Ellis on behalf of BamaCarry, Inc.,...
(Updated) Brad Meeks guilty of lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide in death of Curtis Wilson
Updated 1/30/20 7:51 p.m.
CULLMAN, Ala. - A Cullman County jury convicted Bradford Neal Meeks, 29, of Bremen of criminally negligent homicide in the May...
Testimony enters 2nd day in Brad Meeks trial
Edited Jan. 30, 3:03 p.m. to correct "The paramedic admitted that severe low blood sugar could cause a person to smell like alcohol but...
Emotional first day of testimony in trial of Brad Meeks
CULLMAN, Ala. - After a marathon session to seat a jury Monday, the trial of Bremen resident Bradford Neal Meeks, 29, in the May...
Jury seated in trial of man charged with reckless murder in Cullman student’s death
CULLMAN, Ala. - After a marathon “voir dire,” or jury selection process, that began Monday morning, a jury was officially seated at 7:01 p.m....
Cullman man gets more than 24 years in prison for methamphetamine crimes (updated with photo)
Updated with photo 1-16-20 8:16 p.m.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge on Thursday sentenced two men involved in a methamphetamine conspiracy to prison sentences...
Attorneys seek expert mental examination of Baileyton double murder defendant
CULLMAN, Ala. - On Monday Johnny Berry and Brandon Little, attorneys for Sara Tapia-Franco, the Baileyton mother accused of murdering two of her children...
CASE CLOSED: Ballenger pleads guilty to felony murder in death of Baby Hoss, receives 40 years
CULLMAN, Ala. – It’s the end of a tragic case that began more than five years ago, when 1-year-old Hoss Benham was pronounced dead...
In trial 4, Jack Wilson convicted of assault
CULLMAN, Ala. - A Cullman County jury returned a guilty verdict against Jack Harold Wilson, 74, of Bremen Wednesday during his fourth trial appearance...
Jason McCurry acquitted in 2016 sex abuse case
CULLMAN, Ala. - A Cullman County jury on Wednesday found Jason Allen McCurry, 41, of Russellville not guilty on all charges in a 2016...
Court dog Brooksie goes to 1st jury trial
CULLMAN, Ala. - On Monday afternoon, Cullman’s court dog Brooksie took the stand in her first jury trial, a child abuse case in which...
GUILTY: Brown pleads to reduced charge in death of Baby Hoss, receives 40 years
CULLMAN, Ala. - Jeffery Hugh Brown, 43, of Vinemont pleaded guilty Friday to felony murder in the death of 1-year-old Hoss Benham, who died...
Hanceville man indicted on murder charge in Aug. 2019 wreck
CULLMAN, Ala. – A Hanceville man was arrested Wednesday, Nov. 13 after being indicted by a Cullman County grand jury on charges of murder,...
Cullman County father pleads guilty to manslaughter in 2017 shooting death of son
CULLMAN, Ala. - Jones Chapel man Donald Wayne Trammell, 44, on Thursday pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the Dec. 24, 2017 shooting death of...
Crane Hill couple sentenced to prison for payroll tax fraud
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Crane Hill husband and wife were sentenced to 20 months collectively in prison Thursday for failing to pay over payroll...
U.S. Supreme Court decisions advance 6 Alabama capital sentences, 2 for murders of police officers
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Attorney Gen. Steve Marshall welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions on Monday not to review several Alabama death penalty cases, including...
(Updated) Former AL Senate Majority Leader Zeb Little pleads guilty to 1st-degree theft of property
Updated 9-24-19 11:47 a.m.
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman native and former Alabama Senate Majority Leader Zebulon “Zeb” Little, 51, pleaded guilty Friday to two counts...
Fite pleads guilty to BUI, gets 2 years probation
WINSTON COUNTY, Ala. - William Jackson Fite, 23, of Decatur, the driver of the boat from which Kelsey Starling, 26, of Troy disappeared during...
Espy, Jr. pleads guilty to murder, Garner convicted of attempted murder
CULLMAN, Ala. - On Friday, Aug. 9, three days ahead of a trial scheduled on the Aug. 12, 2019 docket, Robert Gene Espy, Jr.,...
Morgan County man who faked own death pleads guilty
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Morgan County man who faked his death pled guilty Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019 in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Jay...
The wheels of justice: active homicide cases in Cullman County, part 2
Editor’s note: All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty.
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Tribune continues its review of pending homicide cases in Cullman County,...
Case of man accused of killing Tommy Piper heading to grand jury with additional charges
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County District Court, with Circuit Judge Gregory Nicholas as authorized acting district judge on behalf of District Judge Rusty Turner,...
The wheels of justice: active homicide cases in Cullman County, part 1
Editor’s note: All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty.
CULLMAN, Ala. - It has been said that the wheels of justice turn slowly, and...
BREAKING: Residents, organizations file suit against Tyson over spill, plant conditions
JASPER, Ala. - On Friday, the Sipsey Heritage Commission and Chandler Holdings, along with 40 individual property owners along the Mulberry and Sipsey Forks...
Crane Hill man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison
CULLMAN, Ala. - United States District Judge Abdul K. Kallon sentenced Danny Ray Tucker, 51, of Crane Hill, on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 to...
Meet Brooksie, the Cullman County Courthouse’s new facility dog
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Cullman County Courthouse on Monday officially welcomed its newest officer, Brooksie, a 2-year-old female labradoodle trained by Service Dogs Alabama...
Cullman courts are going to the dogs!
Alabama a national leader in use of facility dogs to ease stress in courts; coming to Cullman soon
MONTGOMERY
- Alabama’s courts are going to...
Bremen man’s 3rd trial in shooting of neighbor ends in mistrial
CULLMAN, Ala. - Jack Harold Wilson, 74, of Bremen this week made his third trial appearance in the shooting of his neighbor, with the...
Hanceville man convicted in 35-year-old sex abuse case
Updated 6-12-19 6:52 p.m.
CULLMAN, Ala. - Hanceville area resident Glen Leon Yarbrough, 78, on Wednesday was found guilty of one count of sexual abuse...
Out on bond: What has ‘free bail’ meant for Cullman County?
CULLMAN, Ala. - Since the institution of a federal judge’s injunction against Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry last fall, an injunction which requires him...
First Veterans Treatment Court docket day declared success
CULLMAN, Ala. - On Thursday, Cullman County’s brand new Veterans Treatment Court (see www.cullmantribune.com/2019/05/30/cullman-county-veterans-treatment-court-gets-underway-today/) held its first docket day, and presiding Judge Wells “Rusty”...
Cullman County Veterans Treatment Court gets underway today
CULLMAN, Ala. - As of Thursday morning, Cullman County’s court system now gives veterans who struggle with the mental and emotional aftermath of their...
