Greene County Democrat

Tag: District Attorney Greg Griggers

  • Gov. Kay Ivey appoints Rachel England new district attorney for Marengo, Greene and Sumter counties

    Rachel M. England

    Governor Ivey has appointed Rachel M. England as District Attorney for the 17th Judicial Circuit serving Greene, Marengo and Sumter counties.  A Demopolis native and graduate of The University of Alabama and the University of Alabama School of Law, England will replace District Attorney Greg Griggers for the two years remaining in his term as DA. Griggers was elected Circuit Judge for the 17th Judicial District replacing Judge Eddie Hardaway who retired.

    “A prosecutor from the beginning of her legal career, Rachel England has a distinguished record of handling criminal cases throughout the 17th Judicial Circuit as an Assistant District Attorney,” said Governor Ivey.  “During her tenure she has played an active role in confronting crime, from targeting gang violence to rooting out public corruption. I have no doubt she will continue this strong record of upholding the law as the new District Attorney in Greene, Marengo and Sumter counties. England will also become Alabama’s youngest district attorney at age 29.”

    England, a native of Marengo County, attended public school and went to the University of Alabama, with the intention of studying medicine. “ I started as a biology major, but I also had an internship in District Attorney Griggers office since high school. After two years, I changed my major and focused on law school. I attended the University of Alabama Law school. After seven years away from my home in Demopolis, I returned to take a job as Assistant District Attorney under Griggers to help keep our citizens safe and reduce crime.”

    Rachel England was recently in the news for pursuing jury tampering charges against Tiyanna Deshay Artis, who served as jury forewoman in a case of two cousins, Gregory and Terrence Williams, from Greene County, for murdering Donald Ireland of Sumter County. Both cousins were acquitted of the murder charge by the jury. England, assisted by law enforcement found evidence of a personal relationship between Artis and Terrence Williams and charged her with 15 counts of Perjury 1st Degree and 3 counts of Hindering Prosecution 1st Degree. Artis is in jail in Sumter County.

    “Blatant juror misconduct rising to this egregious level will not be tolerated in the 17th Judicial Circuit. There will be harsh consequences for those who attempt to disrupt the judicial process of the criminal circuit court,” said England, at the time Assistant District Attorney.

  • Morton settles case against ABC Agents for false arrest

    Morton.jpgEUTAW, AL – Alphonso “Duke” Morton, a manager at Edgar’s Grocery, settled his case against three Alabama Beverage Control Board agents just prior to a trial that was set on March 27, 2017. G. Coe Baxter and Josh Hayes of the Tuscaloosa firm Prince, Glover & Hayes and Senator Hank Sanders of the Selma law firm Chestnut, Sanders & Sanders represented Morton during the litigation.
    On April 16, 2009, the ABC Board conducted a minor sting operation where a minor was sent into Edgar’s Grocery in Eutaw to attempt to purchase alcohol underage. After the employees refused the sale to the minor, Morton, as instructed by Dan and Gavin Edgar, store owners, and as he was trained to do, attempted to call the police to report the underage minor. Subsequently, three ABC Board agents went inside Edgar’s grocery and, as Morton was making a phone call, snatched the phone out of his hand and violently threw him onto the floor.
    The agents subdued Morton on the floor by putting their knees and feet on his neck and back even though Morton showed no resistance. The agents then booked Morton and placed him in jail on charges of Obstructing Governmental Operations and Resisting Arrest. Video surveillance footage of the incident clearly showed Morton did not commit any crime and the charges against him were eventually dropped.
    On Thursday, July 16, 2009, District Attorney Greg Griggers, dropped all charges against Alphonzo Morton, Jr. This was the first time this incident had been to court, and before any action was taken, Griggers announced that all charges had been dropped.

    At that time, Attorney Hank Sanders stated: “First, Mr. Morton’s record needs to be cleared and second, we need to help the ABC agents learn how to treat people.” Morton subsequently filed a suit against the ABC agents.
    In response to his case settlement, Morton stated that he is happy it is finally resolved. “My attorneys worked hard and now I can say justice was done,” he said.
    Coe Baxter, lead counsel for Morton, said, “I am very happy for Mr. Alphonzo Morton that we were able to successfully litigate this case to a settlement. It was a privilege to represent such a hardworking, gracious, and downright good man and this settlement clearly vindicates him.” Hank Sanders added, “The actions of the ABC agents were egregious and wrong. Mr. Morton did not deserve to be treated in such a manner and we are happy with this result which now vindicates him.”
    Mr. Morton served one term of the Eutaw City Council since this incident. He also serves as a deacon at St. Paul United Methodist Church of Eutaw.