Former Alabama Police Chief Given 38 Years for Sex Crimes

Decatur - Chris Sanders, the former Somerville Police Chief has pleaded guilty to sodomy and sexual abuse that involves three minor children. Sanders who was the police chief from Oct. 2004 to Jan. 2006 was ordered by Judge Steve Haddock to serve 18 years for two counts of sodomy and 10 years each for sexual abuse. Sentences will run concurrently. At this time the thirty-eight year-old is awaiting transfer to state prison, reports the Associated Press.

Leroy - Charlene Schmitz, 54, a teacher at Leroy High School has been charged with having sex with a 14 year-old student. Other charges of rape and sodomy were filed as well. The alleged incident was brought to the authorities attention after the boys mother gave police dozens of sexually explicit e-mails she claimed were sent to her son from Schmitz. Police who interviewed the boy stated that he had admitted to having a relationship with Schmitz since April. Pending further investigation more details will be released. At this time Schmitz is scheduled for court on July 24th. She has been released on $40,000 bond, reports the Associated Press.

Birmingham - Michael Sherrod Hall has been charged by the FBI with a federal bank robbery that happened on Friday in Hoover. According to the FBI, $18,000 was recovered in the car that Hall had been driving. Hall was apprehended on I-20 East in Douglas County, Georgia a short time after the bank robbery. Hall who was a transfer from University of Arkansas was the starting defensive end for the Bulldogs last season. His scheduled bond hearing was set for this past Tuesday in the Birmingham Federal Court, reports the Associated Press.