Former State Representative Will Dismukes convicted on theft charges
On Friday, a Montgomery County jury found former Alabama state Representative Will Dismukes guilty of first-degree theft of property charges. The jury found former Rep. Dismukes guilty of stealing from his former employer, Weiss Commercial Flooring. Dismukes was also found guilty of two aggravating factors, which could lead the first-time offender to spend time in prison when sentenced. “I am very pleased with the jury’s conviction in this case,” Montgomery DA Daryl Bailey told reporters. Dismukes thievery cost a local business thousands of dollars in stolen revenue. This is the first time in history that a Montgomery jury has found an aggravator in a theft case. Because of this, my office will be seeking significant prison time for Mr. Dismukes,” Bailey said. Dismukes, a Republican, represented Elmore and Autauga Counties in the Alabama House of Representatives from 2018 to 2022. Dismukes lost his bid for re-election in the 2022 Republican primary to Jerry Starnes. Dismukes broke away from Wiess Commercial Flooring and started his own flooring business. The accusations against Dismukes were leveled by his former employers. Dismukes was indicted by a Montgomery grand jury in June 2021. Dismukes was a pastor of a Prattville Church but resigned after he was criticized for attending a birthday celebration in Selma for Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forest while former Congressman John Lewis’s (D-Selma) body was lying-in-state in his native Selma. Forest, who became wealthy as a slave trader, headed the Ku Klux Klan following the Civil War. Dismukes was the Chaplain for his local Sons of Confederate Veterans chapter. Dismukes, although one of the youngest members of the Legislature at the time, once collapsed on the floor of the House during his tenure in the body. Dismukes was a 2020 Republican candidate for Congress in Alabama’s Second Congressional District but dropped out of the race and endorsed Jessica Taylor. He also endorsed John Merrill for U.S. Senate. Merrill dropped out of the Senate race when Jeff Sessions entered the 2020 GOP primary field, while Taylor finished third in the GOP primary for Congress. Prosecutors claimed that Dismukes stole thousands of dollars in building materials and tools from Weiss and cashed checks that should have gone to his then-employer. Dismukes testified in his own defense in his trial saying that he did not steal but rather said that he “double-dipped.” Montgomery Judge Brooke Reid will hold a sentencing hearing for Dismukes on May 4th, 2023. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Alabama high court raises maximum bond for murder defendants
The Alabama Supreme Court has raised the maximum bail amount a judge can set for a state murder charge to $1.5 million. The change to Alabama’s criminal rules was approved by the high court on January 14, news outlets reported. It means murder defendants now face bail that’s ten times higher than the previous limit of $150,000. Alabama prosecutors had pushed for the change, saying the old bail limit was too low to keep some dangerous criminal defendants in jail while awaiting trial. In Mobile County, Dayvon Bray was released from jail on bond last year after being charged with murder, to be arrested again and charged with fatally shooting his girlfriend. Higher bails for those charged with murder could prevent similar cases in the future, said Mobile County Chief Assistant District Attorney Keith Blackwood. “It’s a better opportunity to keep these offenders incarcerated while they await trial rather than have them make a very low bond and be out,” Blackwood told WKRG-TV. “It’ll be really large bonds for people accused of murder, one of the most horrific crimes that we have.” Alabama’s bail schedule is a recommendation for judges, who have some discretion to set higher or lower amounts. But magistrates are bound by the upper limits of the rules, and they’re often the first to set bail for criminal defendants. Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey said he’d spent seven years advocating a higher bail amount for murder charges. “I’m very satisfied with the change,” Bailey told the Montgomery Advertiser. He added: “I think it’s ridiculous that you can be caught with drugs and get a $1.5 million bail, but if you murder someone, the max is $150,000.” Another measure aimed at keeping more criminal defendants locked away until their cases go to trial will be decided by Alabama voters in November. Voters on the fall ballot are being asked to approve Aniah’s Law, named for Aniah Blanchard, an Auburn teenager who was abducted and killed in 2019. That constitutional amendment, approved by state lawmakers, would give judges more discretion to deny bail to people accused of violent crimes. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Lawyer: State Rep. Will Dismukes maintains innocence
Montgomery District Attorney Daryl Bailey said the business made a complaint on May 20.
State Rep. Will Dismukes facing theft charges from former workplace
Dismukes has recently faced sharp criticism, including a call to resign, for participating in a celebration marking the birthday of a Confederate general who was also an early Ku Klux Klan leader.
