Dallas Co. DA aims to move criminal cases forward in 2024
From the West Alabama Newsroom–
Dallas County Circuit Court held it’s first session of 2024. And more than a dozen criminal cases were on the court docket.
It was a busy day Monday — at the Dallas County Courthouse in Selma. The court docket was filled with pleas — arraignments — and sentences — as well as first call hearings — and settlement conferences.
“The docket was quite voluminous on today. We had a number of cases. We were able to have several cases resolved on today. And then we were also able to conduct some hearings as it pertains to bond,” said District Attorney Robert Turner, Jr.
Circuit Judge Collins Pettaway set bond at $100,000 dollars for Aggravated Child Abuse Suspect — Walter McGary. McGary was arrested and charged — following a missing persons investigation involving his step-son.
“His step-son was reported missing in 2023 and he was found alive,” said Turner.
Murder suspect Rockel Hardy also went before the judge — for a bond hearing. Hardy is accused in the 2022 shooting death of Samuel Taylor — while out on probation for a 2012 murder.
“His bond of course was denied on today. And we’ll be going forward with getting that case ready for trial, hopefully in 2024.”
Turner says his office has now made discovery conferences — a regular courtroom process for prosecuting a case.
“The purpose of it is to ensure that the defendants receive due process. And we have a duty under the law to exchange that,” said Turner.
“What we’re doing is trying to make sure that we put everything out on the table. Because it facilitates the cases moving along faster.”
It’s has now been about one year since Turner was elected District Attorney of the 4th Judicial Circuit — which includes Dallas, Perry, Wilcox, Bibb and Hale counties.
