Lawmakers in Favor of Child Abuse Bill

The Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee was unanimously in favor of a bill proposed by Senator Clyde Chambliss to enact stiffer penalties against those who commit Aggravated Child Abuse.

The bill, known as Winston’s law, was inspired by a case currently being overseen by Elmore County District Attorney Randall Houston. Houston asked the State Legislature to increase the penalty of Aggravated Child Abuse to a child under six to carry a life sentence. Houston’s case is that of Hallee McLeod, whose 4-year-old son was found unresponsive and injured in the back of a car in Florida in September. McLeod and her boyfriend, Scott Hicks, face charges of aggravated child abuse and chemical endangerment of a child.

Under current Alabama law, Aggravated Child Abuse carries a 2 to 20 year prison sentence, but Houston is asking the state legislature to upgrade the crime to a Class A felony, which would carry a 10 to 99 year sentence. Upgrading this crime would carry the same level of punishment as an attempted murder charge.

The bill is expected to be discussed Tuesday, February 9th.