Alabama

Corrections officer charged with smuggling meth into Alabama prison

Published

1 year ago

October 11, 2024

Corrections officer charged with smuggling meth into Alabama prison

A corrections officer has been arrested on charges of smuggling methamphetamine into the maximum-security prison where she worked.

The unnamed 48-year-old officer was charged with attempting to distribute a controlled substance, promoting prison contraband, and using her official office for personal gain. All charges are felonies, according to arrest records.

The officer allegedly brought meth into the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama, then distributed the drugs to an inmate, the complaint states. The officer was taken into custody on Wednesday.

Holman Correctional Facility serves as Alabama’s primary prison for death row inmates and is the only facility in the state where executions are carried out.

The sun sets behind Holman Prison in Atmore, Alabama, on January 27, 2022. An unnamed corrections officer faces felony charges for attempting to distribute a controlled substance, promoting prison contraband, and using her official position…

AP Photo/Jay Reeves, File

The arrest follows a similar case this year when another Alabama corrections officer was sentenced for drug smuggling at a different facility.

Investigators with a canine unit found three bags of meth inside Henry Guice Jr.’s car in June 2023 while it was parked at Stanton Correctional Facility in Elmore County

In that instance, a former officer received a 30-month federal prison sentence for attempting to distribute meth to inmates at his place of work. The officer pleaded guilty to charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Alabama’s Department of Corrections has faced criticism from federal and state authorities over the condition of its prison facilities. Reports have cited overcrowding, understaffing and high rates of violence as factors exacerbating the challenges within the system.

At a hearing earlier this year, families of incarcerated individuals described their disgust toward Alabama’s prisons, including assaults, drug-related deaths and other incidents involving their friends and family.

Some wearing T-shirts with photos of their loved ones, family members also detailed rapes, extortions and overdoses behind bars. They expressed frustration over the state’s lack of progress in improving conditions.

In 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Alabama, alleging that conditions in the state’s men’s prisons violated the Eighth Amendment, which protects against cruel and unusual punishment.

The Justice Department’s complaint specifically noted the availability of illegal drugs, high levels of violence, and inadequate security measures.

Chante Roney appears at a legislative hearing on July 24 in Montgomery, Alabama, where she spoke about the death of her brother, Deandre Roney, in an Alabama prison. The state prison system has faced criticism…

AP Photo/Kim Chandler

Efforts to reform Alabama’s prison system have been ongoing, but progress has been slow.

Three years ago, Katie Glenn, a policy associate with the Southern Poverty Law Center, described Alabama’s prison system as one of the most “overcrowded and violent carceral in the country.”

She wrote that “people living in Alabama Department of Corrections facilities are increasingly older and sicker.”

The state has initiated construction on two new prisons intended to alleviate the problems.

However, critics argue that without addressing the root causes of drug smuggling and other contraband issues, new facilities alone will not resolve the systemic problems.

“Every issue that’s been identified, every one of them, will still exist in 2025 when these first two prisons are completed,” state Representative Chris England, chair of the Alabama Democratic Party, said in a floor speech the same year Glenn’s report was published.

“Our system is in a current humanitarian crisis,” he said. “And every question cannot be answered with new prisons. The buildings will not do anything with the culture of corruption in our prisons.”

As the investigation into the latest arrest continues, authorities have not disclosed whether additional arrests or disciplinary actions are expected.

This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.

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Alabama

Alabama Adds JUCO Defensive Back, Tuscaloosa Native to 2026 Signing Class

Published

8 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Alabama Adds JUCO Defensive Back, Tuscaloosa Native to 2026 Signing Class

Alabama football added another member to its 2026 signing class in cornerback Nick Sherman on Sunday evening.

Sherman is the Crimson Tide’s 24th signee, as this news comes 11 days after early national signing day.

The JUCO product was formerly at Itawamba Community College. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder is also a Tuscaloosa native, as he went to Northridge High School.

This season at Itawamba CC, Sherman logged 24 tackles and two interceptions in eight games as a sophomore.

Sherman is the fifth defensive back in the Crimson Tide’s 2026 signing class, as he joins cornerbacks Zyan Gibson and Jorden Edmonds, along with safeties Jireh Edwards and Rihyael Kelley.

Coming HOME, COMMITTED 🐘🐘 . pic.twitter.com/6xKIhWIK56
— Nick “ vibez” Sherman ✞ (@nickvibeez) December 15, 2025

Alabama’s 2026 Signing Class

CB Zyan Gibson, 5-foot-11, 177 lbs. – Gadsden, Alabama (Committed 12/24/2024)
CB Jorden Edmonds, 6-foot-2, 175 lbs. – Marietta, Georgia (Committed 03/26/2025)
EDGE Jamarion Matthews, 6-foot-2, 240 lbs. – Gainesville, Georgia (Committed 02/21/2025)
EDGE Kamhariyan Johnson, 6-foot-4, 260 lbs. – Muscle Shoals, Alabama (Committed 04/12/2025)
OL Chris Booker, 6-foot-4, 285 lbs. – Atlanta, Georgia (Committed 02/20/2025)
QB Jett Thomalla, 6-foot-3, 205 lbs. – Omaha, Nebraska (Committed 06/17/2025)
S Rihyael Kelley, 6-foot-3, 180 lbs. – Cincinnati, Ohio (Committed 06/23/2025)
SN Eli Deutsch, 6-foot-2, 225 lbs. – Franklin, Wisconsin (Committed 06/24/2025)
RB Ezavier Crowell, 5-foot-10, 210 lbs. – Jackson, Alabama (Committed 06/26/2025)
TE Mack Sutter, 6-foot-5, 230 lbs. – Dunlap, Illinois (Committed 06/26/2025)
LB Zay Hall, 6-foot-2, 222 lbs. – Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Committed 06/27/2025)
LB Xavier Griffin, 6-foot-3, 200 lbs. – Gainesville, Georgia (Committed 06/29/2025)
WR Cederian Morgan, 6-foot-4, 220 lbs – Alexander City, Alabama (Committed 07/02/2025)
DL Nolan Wilson, 6-foot-4, 250 lbs. – Picayune, Mississippi (Committed 07/04/2025)
S Jireh Edwards, 6-foot-2, 210 lbs. – Baltimore, Maryland (Committed 07/05/2025)
QB Tayden Kaawa, 6-foot-5, 235 lbs. – Orem, Utah (Committed 07/22/2025)
OT Bear Fretwell, 6-foot-6, 295 lbs. – Brooklet, Georgia (Committed 07/25/25)
OT Jared Doughty, 6-foot-5, 300 lbs. – Atlanta, Georgia (Committed 10/05/2025)
EDGE Corey Howard, 6-foot-6, 245 lbs. – Valdosta, Georgia (Committed 10/19/2025)
OL Tyrell Miller, 6-foot-5, 305 lbs. – College of San Mateo (Committed 11/29/2025)
EDGE Malique Franklin, 6-foot-5, 250 lbs. – Daphne, Alabama (Committed 12/02/2025)
TE Jude Cascone, 6-foot-2, 225 lbs. – Marietta, Georgia (Committed 11/30/2025)
RB Traeshawn Brown, 5-foot-10, 190 lb. – Huntsville, Texas (Committed 12/04/2025)
CB Nick Sherman, 6-foot-3, 190 lb, – Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Committed 12/14/25)

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Alabama

Alabama community rallies to save Ringo, an injured dog looking for a home: ‘Full of hope’

Published

20 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Alabama community rallies to save Ringo, an injured dog looking for a home: ‘Full of hope’

Ringo, an abandoned puppy that was dropped off at the Madison Police Department earlier this week, will get the surgery he needs thanks to an outpouring of donations from the city’s residents.

On Dec. 9, the Madison Police Department said in a Facebook post it was trying to raise $2,000 so Ringo could get an injured leg amputated.

“Citizens of Madison, we need your help. Recently, an abandoned and abused puppy was brought to us—sweet, loving, and still full of hope despite what he’s been through,” the post said.

“To give him the chance at a healthy, happy life, he needs a surgery to amputate an injured leg. Once he recovers, he’ll be ready for adoption and would make an incredible addition to a loving Madison family—just in time for Christmas.”

Just three days later, the department said in an update that they’d raised the money they needed, and Ringo would get his surgery in the middle of January.

During a vet visit, the pup was given a clean bill of health and all his required shots.

“We completely met the goal and could not have done it without the help of all our citizens here so we greatly appreciate everything you guys donated for him,” an update video said.

Now the police department is asking for the community to step up again and help get Ringo adopted before his surgery.

“Our next thing we can do is have him adopted. He is ready to go into somebody’s home so he can get acclimated and ready to go before his surgery,” the post said.

Anyone interested in adopting Ringo is asked to call Madison’s Animal Control at 256-772-5694.

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Alabama

BamaCentral Courtside From Arizona’s 96-75 Win Over Alabama

Published

1 day ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

BamaCentral Courtside From Arizona’s 96-75 Win Over Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — No. 12 Alabama fell to No. 1 Arizona in Legacy Arena in the fifth annual C.M. Newton Classic. The Crimson Tide held a 2-point halftime lead, but got decimated in the second half, opening the first six minutes of the second frame with just two field goals made.

The top-ranked Wildcats went on to claim a 96-75 victory and dropped the Crimson Tide’s record in the event to 2-3.

“They’re obviously a really good team,” Nate Oats said. “There’s a reason they’re number one in the country. I thought the first half we played pretty well. We were down five on the glass and needed to clean it up a little bit, and then the second half we had this issue where we just haven’t had very good starts to the second half. We came out and didn’t have a very good start, and it got progressively worse. I think they scored, shoot 39 the entire first half. They had 39 in less than 12 minutes to start the second half.

“Start of the second half was bad. Obviously, they came out of halftime ready to play; we didn’t. The toughness factor was a problem. It’s impossible – I shouldn’t say impossible. It’s nearly impossible to win a game when your opponent gets 28 more field goal attempts than you. If you look, we outshot them from the field and from the free throw line, both percentage-wise. Free throws, they made one more free throw than we did and they got 28 more field goal attempts. You can’t win games giving your opponent 28 more field goal attempts. Offensive glass we had three the whole game, they had 22. We lost the rebounds by 20 again. This has been a recurring issue for us.”

Alabama History in C.M. Newton Classic

2021 – Davidson 79, Alabama 78
2022 – Gonzaga 100, Alabama 90
2023 – Alabama 101, Liberty 56
2024 – Alabama 100, Illinois 87
2025 – Arizona 96, Alabama 75

Watch the above video as BamaCentral writers Katie Windham, Hunter De Siver, and Will Miller, provide thoughts and takeaways from the Alabama men’s basketball team’s 96-75 loss against the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday. The trio discusses the performance of the No. 12 Crimson Tide and the rebounding issues that continue to plague the program.

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