New Precedent Overrules Antiquated Method for Valuing Currency in Theft of Property Offenses

| March 29, 2016 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/11/ap_03082101940-be224de147901c6ab4c0026fc2461f3e47f43859.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1655;s:6:"height";i:1240;s:4:"file";s:67:"2015/11/ap_03082101940-be224de147901c6ab4c0026fc2461f3e47f43859.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:67:"ap_03082101940-be224de147901c6ab4c0026fc2461f3e47f43859-336x252.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:252;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:67:"ap_03082101940-be224de147901c6ab4c0026fc2461f3e47f43859-771x578.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:578;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:67:"ap_03082101940-be224de147901c6ab4c0026fc2461f3e47f43859-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:67:"ap_03082101940-be224de147901c6ab4c0026fc2461f3e47f43859-768x575.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:575;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:69:"ap_03082101940-be224de147901c6ab4c0026fc2461f3e47f43859-1536x1151.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1151;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:65:"ap_03082101940-be224de147901c6ab4c0026fc2461f3e47f43859-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:67:"ap_03082101940-be224de147901c6ab4c0026fc2461f3e47f43859-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:67:"ap_03082101940-be224de147901c6ab4c0026fc2461f3e47f43859-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:67:"ap_03082101940-be224de147901c6ab4c0026fc2461f3e47f43859-415x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:415;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:67:"ap_03082101940-be224de147901c6ab4c0026fc2461f3e47f43859-354x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:354;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:67:"ap_03082101940-be224de147901c6ab4c0026fc2461f3e47f43859-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:67:"ap_03082101940-be224de147901c6ab4c0026fc2461f3e47f43859-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:67:"ap_03082101940-be224de147901c6ab4c0026fc2461f3e47f43859-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => David Martin
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => AP
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:1132105;s:14:"optimized_size";i:765345;s:7:"percent";d:32.399999999999999;}s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:95:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/11/ap_03082101940-be224de147901c6ab4c0026fc2461f3e47f43859.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:1128057;s:14:"optimized_size";i:761423;s:7:"percent";d:32.5;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:5:"large";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:101:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/11/ap_03082101940-be224de147901c6ab4c0026fc2461f3e47f43859-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4048;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3922;s:7:"percent";d:3.1099999999999999;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1619939632 
1459274502

Attorney General Luther Strange says the Alabama Supreme Court recently issued a precedent-setting decision regarding theft of property offenses.

James Hall, was a former commander of the Houston County Disabled American Veterans. He issued a $1,500 check from a DAV account to himself but refused to reimburse the money when other DAV board members disputed the transaction. Hall was convicted for second-degree theft of property in February 2015.

Hall appealed, claiming the indictment charged him with theft of currency but the evidence showed that he actually stole a $1500 check. The Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Hall’s conviction.

The Alabama Supreme Court decision overruled cases relying on antiquated methods for valuating currency. For example, in past years, five silver coins would have been worth less than five gold coins, so the value of what was stolen depended on its particular nature. The decision modernizes the law to reflect modern financial practices, which recognize that the value of currency is standardized and is not dependent on whether the medium of exchange is currency, check, debit card, or credit card.

54% of support comes from members

 

New pilot program will offer housing, resources to people leaving prison

The Birmingham Reentry Alliance will provide wrap around services to dozens of men and women adjusting to life after prison.

A New Orleans garden paid hundreds of dollars in fees for a sewer that doesn’t exist

Galvez Garden owner Lissie Stewart has been fighting the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board over inaccurate billing for years.

Alabama coal mine keeps digging after hundreds of fines and a fatal explosion

Following the death of a grandfather, Crimson Oak Grove Resources has left a community afraid for their homes and lives. An expert warns one resident may need to evacuate her home while she still can.

Florida’s 6-week abortion ban will have a ‘snowball effect’ on residents across the South

Abortion rights advocates say the ban will likely force many to travel farther for abortion care and endure pregnancy and childbirth against their will.

Attitudes among Alabama lawmakers softening on Medicaid expansion

Alabama is one of ten states which has not expanded Medicaid. Republican leaders have pushed back against the idea for years.

Birmingham is 3rd worst in the Southeast for ozone pollution, new report says

The American Lung Association's "State of the Air" report shows some metro areas in the Gulf States continue to have poor air quality.

More Front Page Coverage