Perry Hooper apologizes for “unacceptable” behavior
On Tuesday, former State Rep. Perry Hooper Jr. released a statement apologizing for what he called his “unacceptable behavior” towards Elizabeth Daly. The apology followed Judge J.R. Gaines’ acceptance of the Montgomery District Attorney’s motion to dismiss the charges against Hooper. Hooper, through his attorney, Joe Espy, sent a copy of the apology to Alabama Today. “I would like to express my sincere apologies to Elizabeth Daly. On August 16, 2022, Miss Daly was assisting my friend and me as a hostess where we were dining. I was wrong, and I take full responsibility for my actions. Miss Daly is an exemplary person, and my behavior was unacceptable. I hope she will accept this apology for my regrettable conduct.” Espy said that Hooper would have no further comment on the matter. “The State of Alabama has concluded that without the Victim’s testimony and cooperation, the evidence would be insufficient to attain a conviction,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Azzie Taylor wrote in a motion filed in Montgomery County Circuit court on Monday morning. Hooper, age 68, was indicted on sex abuse charges by a Montgomery County grand jury last month. Hooper was arrested in August after an incident at a downtown Montgomery restaurant on Commerce Street where Daly was working. Following the indictment, Daly released a statement asking that the charges against Hooper be dropped. Daly wrote in a statement released to Alabama Today, “I have asked that any charges against Perry Hooper be dismissed. The matters relating to Mr. Hooper and me have been resolved, and going through the turmoil of a trial would provide no more justice than getting a sincere public apology from Mr. Hooper. I so respect and appreciate law enforcement and the job they have to perform. Nevertheless, I request these charges be dismissed.” Daly has asked that the press respect her privacy and not contact her. Hooper is a senior member of the Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee – the 425-member committee that directs the governance of the party. He is also a member of the Board of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Hooper was a frequently published political commentator whose columns were frequently published at 1819 News and the Montgomery Advertiser. According to an affidavit, Hooper approached a woman (Daly) working at a restaurant from behind and allegedly grabbed her breasts and waist in an unsolicited embrace while shoving his pelvis against the victim’s backside and began kissing her neck before she was able to break free. Hooper served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1983 to 2002. Hooper is a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump and a frequent visitor to the Trump Whitehouse as well as Trump’s Mar-A-Lago Resort. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
DA drops charges against Perry Hooper
On Monday, the Montgomery District Attorney dropped the sex abuse charge against former State Representative Perry Hooper Jr. after his accuser asked that the charges be dropped. “The State of Alabama has concluded that without the victim’s testimony and cooperation, the evidence would be insufficient to attain a conviction,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Azzie Taylor wrote in a motion filed in Montgomery County Circuit court on Monday morning. Hooper, age 68, was indicted on sex abuse charges by a Montgomery County grand jury last month. Hooper was arrested in August after an incident at a downtown Montgomery restaurant on Commerce Street. The alleged victim, Elizabeth Daly, wrote in a statement released to Alabama Today, “I have asked that any charges against Perry Hooper be dismissed. The matters relating to Mr. Hooper and me have been resolved, and going through the turmoil of a trial would provide no more justice than getting a sincere public apology from Mr. Hooper. I so respect and appreciate law enforcement and the job they have to perform. Nevertheless, I request these charges be dismissed.” Daly has asked that the press respect her privacy and not contact her. When asked for comment, Hooper told Alabama Today to refer all questions to his attorney. Hooper is a member of the Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee representing Montgomery County and a member of the Board of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Hooper was a frequently published political commentator whose columns were frequently published at 1819 News and the Montgomery Advertiser. According to an affidavit, Hooper approached a woman (Daly) working at a restaurant from behind and allegedly grabbed her breasts and waist in an unsolicited embrace while shoving his pelvis against the victim’s backside and began kissing her neck before she was able to break free. Hooper’s next court date was scheduled for December 21 with Circuit Judge J.R. Gaines. Hooper is represented by veteran Montgomery defense attorney Joe Espy. Hooper served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1983 to 2002. Hooper was an early backer of Donald Trump in the 2016 Republican primary season and chaired the Trump Victory Fund in the 2016 campaign. Hooper was a frequent visitor to the Trump Whitehouse and Trump’s Mar-A-Lago Resort. Hooper’s father, Perry Hooper Sr. – now deceased, was the first Republican Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court since Reconstruction. Hooper is married and has three sons and a number of grandchildren. Hooper Jr. was one of six finalists that then-Gov. Robert Bentley considered for appointment to the U.S. Senate in 2017. That appointment instead went to Luther Strange. Hooper endorsed Strange rather than running in the Republican primary. Former Chief Justice Roy Moore defeated Sen. Strange in the primary but lost to Clinton-era U.S. Attorney Doug Jones in the special election. An indictment is merely the finding by a grand jury that the prosecution has presented enough evidence for a jury trial to take place. An indictment is simply a formal accusation. Under the American justice system, all persons are presumed innocent unless found guilty by a jury of their peers. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Perry Hooper’s accuser asks that sexual abuse charges be dropped
On Monday, the woman who had accused former State Rep. Perry Hooper Jr. of sexual abuse at a Montgomery restaurant in August released a statement asking that the charges against Hooper be dropped. Hooper was indicted by a Montgomery grand jury just ten days ago. The victim, Elizabeth Daly, wrote in a statement released to Alabama Today, “I have asked that any charges against Perry Hooper be dismissed. The matters relating to Mr. Hooper and me have been resolved, and going through the turmoil of a trial would provide no more justice than getting a sincere public apology from Mr. Hooper. I so respect and appreciate law enforcement and the job they have to perform. Nevertheless, I request these charges be dismissed.” Ms. Daly said in the statement through her attorney that she would make no comment to any reporter regarding this incident and not to contact her. Hooper, age 68, was indicted on a first-degree sexual abuse charge stemming from an incident at a downtown Montgomery restaurant on Commerce Street. According to an affidavit, Hooper approached a woman working at the restaurant from behind and allegedly grabbed her breasts and waist in an unsolicited embrace while shoving his pelvis against the victim’s backside and began kissing her neck before she was able to break free. Hooper has been a fixture in Alabama Republican Party politics for decades. He is a member of the Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee representing Montgomery County and a member of the Board of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Hooper was a frequently published political commentator whose columns were frequently published at 1819 News and the Montgomery Advertiser. There are unnamed sources claiming that the Montgomery district attorney proceeded with the indictment against Hooper even after the victim came forward and asked that the charges be dropped. Hooper’s next court date is scheduled for December 21. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge J.R. Gaines. Hooper served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1983 to 2002. Hooper is a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump and chaired the Trump Victory Fund in the 2016 campaign. An indictment is merely the finding by a grand jury that the prosecution has presented enough evidence for a jury trial to take place. Hooper will have an opportunity to present a defense at trial before a jury of his peers. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Perry Hooper indicted on sex abuse charges
Former State Representative Perry Hooper Jr., age 68, was indicted on sex abuse charges by a Montgomery County grand jury on Friday. Hooper was arrested in August after an incident at a downtown Montgomery restaurant on Commerce Street. Hooper has been a fixture in Alabama Republican Party politics for decades. He is a member of the Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee representing Montgomery County and a member of the Board of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Hooper was a frequently published political commentator whose columns were frequently published in 1819 News and the Montgomery Advertiser. According to an affidavit, Hooper approached a woman working at the restaurant from behind and allegedly grabbed her breasts and waist in an unsolicited embrace while shoving his pelvis against the victim’s backside and began kissing her neck before she was able to break free. The victim reportedly testified before the grand jury. If convicted, Hooper could face a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $15,000 fine for the charge. Hooper’s next court date is scheduled for December 21. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge J.R. Gaines. Hooper is represented by veteran Montgomery defense attorney Joe Espy. Hooper served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1983 to 2002. Hooper was an early backer of Donald Trump in the 2016 Republican primary season and chaired the Trump Victory Fund in the 2016 campaign. Hooper was a Trump bundler and frequent visitor to the Trump Whitehouse as well as Trump’s Mar-A-Lago Resort. Hooper’s father, Perry Hooper Sr. – now deceased, was the first Republican Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court since Reconstruction. Hooper is married and has three sons and a number of grandchildren. The Alabama Republican Party has released a statement condemning sex abuse. An indictment is merely the finding by a grand jury that the prosecution has presented enough evidence for a jury trial to take place. Hooper will have an opportunity to present a defense at trial before a jury of his peers. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Judge rules against Montgomery’s first charter school; won’t open in 2018
Montgomery’s first charter school is no longer on track to open in 2018. On Tuesday, Circuit Judge J.R. Gaines ruled the Alabama Public Charter School Commission’s 5-1 vote to approve the LEAD Academy’s application for a charter school missed the mark by one vote that it legally needed for approval. Alabama law requires at least six votes for the charter school’s approval to be valid. The judge’s decision follows a March lawsuit made against the school by the Alabama Education Association, which alleged the state charter commission’s approval of Montgomery’s first-approved charter school was “invalid” or “arbitrary,” calling into question the legitimacy its approval of LEAD Academy. It named both LEAD Academy and state commission members as defendants. The AEA applauded Judge Gaine’s decision, which they believe stops “the unlawful granting of a charter school to out-of-state investors.” “The Commission’s own national experts said this application was deficient in all three core areas it reviewed and should be denied,” explained AEA President Sherry Tucker. “Thus, it was no surprise that its backers could not get enough votes in favor of it. AEA will continue to be the strongest supporter of all students in all of Alabama’s public schools.” Theron Stokes, AEA Associate Executive Director, added, “AEA will remain vigilant and fight all attempts to illegally divert public school dollars from Alabama classrooms to out-of-state, for-profit, charter school corporations and those operators should know that before trying to take public money from our public schools. We celebrate this victory for the students in the Montgomery Public Schools and the taxpaying citizens of Montgomery County.” But the school’s spokeswoman said they’re not giving up. The school’s chairwoman Charlotte Meadows told the AP, “it’s a sad day for our students” but “this is not the end of a charter school in Montgomery.” Meadows said she’s looking into legal options, but the start date may be delayed to 2019. Last month the school secured a facility for its learning center, after their initial plans to renovate the building that houses the Small Business Resource Center in downtown Montgomery fell through in February. When it opens, LEAD Academy will be located at the former Algernon Blair Building, which previously served as a bank headquarters, at 2897 Eastern Boulevard.
