Mobile DA

Early Warning Truancy for Friday, October 9 will be rescheduled for Friday, October 16.

Call 251-574-3306 if you have any questions.

Dear ,

As Superintendent, I must make all decisions with the safety and well-being of our students and employees in mind. We all know and recognize that weather conditions can be unpredictable and forecasts may change quickly.

After careful consideration of the latest weather information and the potential for inclement weather in our area, I cannot risk anyone’s safety, as again, the weather conditions currently remain extremely unpredictable. Therefore, all Mobile County Public Schools campuses and offices will be closed on Friday, October 9, 2026. I completely understand that closing schools can create challenges for families, and I do not take that impact lightly.

I appreciate your patience, understanding, and flexibility as we navigate circumstances that are ultimately beyond our control. Please continue to monitor official MCPSS communication platforms for any additional information or updates.

Sincerely,

Chresal D. Threadgill
Superintendent
Mobile County Public Schools

October 1, 2026 marks a big day for Alabama. Two important changes take effect today that our office helped advance. One addresses dangerous gaps in our DUI and hit-and-run laws, and the other strengthens the duty to report suspected child abuse or neglect.

The Devinee Rooney and John Wesley Holt Safe Streets Act strengthens penalties for deadly DUI and serious hit-and-run crashes and allows restitution for hit-and-run victims. I was proud to help refine this legislation and testify in support. Thank you to Senator David Sessions, Representative Margie Wilcox, and the Rooney and Holt families for helping make this change possible.

Alabama’s amended mandatory reporting law clarifies the duty to report information that would lead a reasonable person to believe a child may be abused or neglected, requires a written report within 72 hours of the initial oral report, and increases penalties for repeat violations. The message is simple: when it comes to protecting children, report. You do not have to prove abuse occurred before acting.

As District Attorney, I will continue advocating for victims at the statewide level, working with legislators to address gaps in our laws and strengthen public safety. The experiences of victims and families in Mobile County can help shape better laws for all of Alabama, and I will continue making sure their voices are heard.

SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON

Desiree Holiday has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the 2024 murder of Ja’Curtis Robinson.

On August 1, 2026, a Mobile County jury found Holiday guilty of Intentional Murder. Evidence presented at trial established that on March 3, 2024, Holiday shot Robinson, her boyfriend, in the back, causing his immediate death.

“We are tired of seeing lives destroyed by gun violence in our community,” said District Attorney Keith Blackwood. “We will continue to use every tool available to us to prosecute those who choose this kind of violence. Our thoughts remain with Ja’Curtis’ family and friends as they continue to live with a loss that never should have happened.”

GUILTY OF MURDER

A Mobile County jury found Jamal Hicks guilty of murdering Joe Henderson at an intersection on Dauphin Island Parkway on November 24, 2023.

“A dispute over something Hicks believed was stolen ended with a man dead and a family grieving. Gun violence turns ordinary disagreements into irreversible loss, and we will hold those who make that choice fully accountable," said District Attorney Keith Blackwood.

The State was represented by Assistant District Attorney Richard Foreman, Trial Coordinator Brooke Stanford and Chief Investigator Don Boykin.

Read the full details: https://mobileda.org/jamal-hicks-convicted-in-fatal-shooting-of-joe-henderson/

GRAND BAY STEPMOTHER GUILTY OF CHILD ABUSE AND AGGRAVATED CHILD ABUSE

A Mobile County jury heard a day and a half of testimony and deliberated for approximately two hours before finding Erin Griffith guilty of Child Abuse and Aggravated Child Abuse. She was taken into custody following the verdict.

“Children should be safest with the adults responsible for them,” said District Attorney Keith Blackwood. “When someone harms a child, my office will pursue every lawful means to hold them accountable. Protecting children is among our most important responsibilities, and we will never treat their abuse as anything less than the serious crime it is.”

The State was represented by Assistant District Attorney McRae Young and Trial Coordinator Lindsey Whatley.

Griffith’s sentencing is scheduled for November 5 where she faces up to 20 years in prison.

https://mobileda.org/erin-griffith-convicted-of-child-abuse-and-aggravated-child-abuse/

A Mobile County jury has convicted Adrien Thompson of Felony Murder in the 2024 shooting death of Jermonte Brown.

Evidence showed Thompson planned to rob Brown during a dice game and pulled a fi***rm during the robbery, resulting in Brown’s death.

“Jermonte Brown lost his life over a few hundred dollars,” said District Attorney Keith Blackwood. “Thompson planned the robbery, brought a gun and set in motion the events that led to Brown’s death. This verdict holds him accountable for the deadly consequences of his actions.”

For the full details: https://mobileda.org/adrien-thompson-convicted-of-felony-murder-in-killing-of-jermonte-brown/

Jonathan Sauers pleaded guilty yesterday to two counts of a school employee engaging in a s*x act with a student. Under the negotiated plea, Sauers received the maximum sentence allowed by law—20 years in prison on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently. He was immediately taken into custody.

Jonathan Sauers took advantage of a young girl who deserved to be protected. Throughout this case, my office worked closely with the victim and her family to secure accountability while protecting her from the additional trauma of having to testify in court. This guilty plea and maximum sentence accomplished both.

The victim in this case is a courageous young woman. I hope she is able to close this chapter and move toward the bright future we know lies ahead of her.

I want to thank Assistant District Attorney Theresa Harris and Trial Coordinator Jillian Williams for their work on this case, as well as the care and support they provided to the victim and her family throughout this process.

Deangelo Merrill has been sentenced for the 2021 killing of retired veteran James Jones.

Mr. Jones was an innocent man who lost his life after Merrill went to the wrong home while seeking revenge against someone else.

Judge Brooks sentenced Merrill to life without the possibility of parole for Burglary First Degree, along with two life sentences for Reckless Manslaughter and Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess a Pistol.

This is a just sentence for a man whose deliberate pursuit of revenge took the life of a completely innocent person.

For the full release: https://mobileda.org/deangelo-merrill-sentenced-to-life-without-parole-in-2021-killing-of-retired-veteran-james-jones/

Earlier this week, three individuals charged in connection with the alleged financial exploitation and theft of an elderly victim appeared for preliminary hearings, and their cases were bound over to the Mobile County Grand Jury.

We are seeing these types of cases far too often, and I want to ask everyone in our community to check in with the older people in your life.

Financial exploitation is not necessarily about competency. Older adults can be fully competent, independent and capable of managing their own affairs—and still become the target of someone willing to exploit their trust. The person taking advantage of them may be a family member, caregiver, acquaintance, new friend or complete stranger.

Talk with your parents, grandparents and elderly neighbors about financial scams and exploitation. Pay attention if someone new suddenly becomes heavily involved in their life or finances, or if something simply doesn’t seem right.

And don’t overlook cryptocurrency. Financial predators increasingly use cryptocurrency because they believe the money will be difficult or impossible to trace. Our office has invested in the technology and specialized training necessary to trace cryptocurrency transactions and follow those funds.

Stay connected. Ask questions. Have the conversation. Taking a few minutes to check in could prevent someone you care about from becoming a victim.

If you have suspicions that someone you know may be the victim of this type of theft or financial exploitation, call our office. We can help. Time is of the essence in these cases, particularly when money is being moved through cryptocurrency. The sooner we know about it, the sooner we can begin working to trace where those funds went.

A Mobile County jury has found Quicheay Williams guilty for the 2025 attack on Jasmine Clausell that left Clausell with third-degree burns.

We are grateful to the jury for carefully considering the evidence and holding the defendant accountable.

The State was represented by Assistant District Attorney Richard Taylor Jr. and Trial Coordinator Carla Nealy.

Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on October 14, 2026.

The full release: https://mobileda.org/quicheay-williams-convicted-in-acid-attack-that-left-victim-with-third-degree-burns/