Morgan County District Attorney's Office

05/14/2026

TRINITY MAN CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ABUSING CHILD

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE MORGAN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

May 14, 2026 — Decatur, AL — Romauldo Jimenez, age 62 of Trinity, was convicted this week of Sexual Abuse of a Child Under 12. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Courtney Schellack. The trial was presided over by Circuit Judge Charles Elliott.

In September 2018, an officer with the Decatur Police Department was dispatched to an address in southwest Decatur. A mother had left her residence to run a short errand and had left her eight ( 8 ) year old child home with her cousin’s father. Upon returning home, the child was no longer playing in the yard. The mother called for her child inside the home. The child came out of a room with her shirt on backwards and her shorts unbuttoned. The mother questioned what had happened and the child disclosed that Romauldo Jimenez had been sexually abusing her.

Following an investigation by Decatur Police Department and the Morgan County Department of Human Resources, with the assistance of the Morgan County Child Advocacy Center and Crisis Services of North Alabama, Jimenez was arrested and charged with Sexual Abuse of a Child Under 12.

Assistant District Attorney Courtney Schellack said after the verdict, “This child was left with someone her mother trusted. She was left for less than thirty minutes. Her mother will regret those minutes for the rest of her life. This child bravely faced the man who had threatened and abused her, and she told the jury what he did to her. This jury gave her the justice she deserves.”

Jimenez is facing up to twenty (20) years in the Alabama Department of Corrections. He will remain at the Morgan County Jail until his sentencing on June 17, 2026.

05/08/2026

MADISON WOMAN CONVICTED OF CAPITAL MURDER FOR HIRING MAN TO KILL HER CHILD’S FATHER

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE MORGAN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

Jaclyn Skuce, age 43 of Madison, was convicted of Capital Murder by a Morgan County jury this morning. The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Garrick Vickery and Assistant District Attorney Joe Lewis. The trial was presided over by Circuit Judge Jennifer Howell.

On July 24, 2020, officers with the Hartselle Police Department were dispatched to a home on Dawson Street in reference to a welfare check. Anthony Larry Sheppard did not appear in court for a scheduled custody hearing, and his attorney requested that officers check on him.

Upon arrival, officers found that Sheppard’s storm door was shattered and his main door was ajar. Officers located Sheppard deceased with multiple gunshot wounds. During the course of the investigation, led by Investigator Tania Burgess with the Hartselle Police Department, it was determined that Jaclyn Skuce hired Logan Delp to kill Sheppard in order to prevent him from gaining custody or further visitation with his child.

The jury deliberated for approximately a day and half before finding Skuce guilty of three counts of capital murder: pursuant to a contract for hire, because it stemmed from Sheppard’s status as a witness, and because the murder was committed by shooting inside an occupied dwelling.

Skuce was sentenced today to life imprisonment in the Alabama Department of Corrections without the possibility of parole.

Following the verdict, Chief Assistant District Attorney Garrick Vickery stated, “There are never any winners in a case like this. This jury was incredibly thorough and took their time to make sure they made the right decision, both for Mr. Sheppard and for the defendant. We are glad that they convicted her for the choice she made to take Mr. Sheppard away from his family.”

Four other defendants were charged with capital murder in connection with Sheppard’s death. Logan Delp was tried and convicted of capital murder in October 2025. One defendant has pled guilty, and two remain pending trial.

04/23/2026

Today's the day! Come out and show your support for crime victims and help save lives. The Lifesouth mobile unit is located at the Cain Street (2nd Floor) entrance to the Morgan County Courthouse and will be accepting donations TODAY from 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM.

Give blood. Save lives.

Next week is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. In honor of that, the Morgan County District Attorney’s Office has partnered with LifeSouth Community Blood Centers to host a blood drive at the Morgan County Courthouse on Thursday, April 23 from 10 AM - 3:30 PM.

Donate if you can to help save a life.

04/17/2026

Give blood. Save lives.

Next week is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. In honor of that, the Morgan County District Attorney’s Office has partnered with LifeSouth Community Blood Centers to host a blood drive at the Morgan County Courthouse on Thursday, April 23 from 10 AM - 3:30 PM.

Donate if you can to help save a life.

04/02/2026

COURTHOUSE REOPENING

The Morgan County Courthouse will reopen to the public on Monday, April 6, 2026. The Morgan County District Attorney’s Office will reopen at the courthouse at 8:30 Monday morning.

Please note: the first floor (Lee Street) entrance will remain closed. The second floor (Cain Street) entrance will be open at 8:00.

Thank you for your patience during the courthouse closure!

02/09/2026

TEMPORARY OFFICE RELOCATION

Beginning Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the District Attorney's Office will be relocating to the Temporary Courthouse Annex due to construction at the Morgan County Courthouse. Please note, due to space limitations, not all services will be physically located at the Annex during this time. If you need to contact the District Attorney's Office during this temporary relocation, please see below:

VICTIM SERVICES:
If you are a victim in a case and need to contact the Victim Services Officer, Christina Dotson, please call (256) 560-6135 or email at [email protected].

RESTITUTION RECOVERY UNIT:
Individuals needing to make their monthly payments may visit the Restitution Recovery Unit at the Temporary Courthouse Annex, located at 401 2nd Ave SE, Decatur, AL. If you have questions or need to reach the Restitution Recovery Unit by phone, please call (256) 351-4740.

PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM (PTIP):
Defendants requiring assistance with PTIP should call (256) 560-6139 to schedule an appointment with the PTIP coordinator. This office can also be reached by email at [email protected].

If you need any other assistance during the courthouse closure, please contact our office by phone or by email.

Phone: (256) 351-4610
Email: [email protected]

01/25/2026

The Morgan County Courthouse will be closed tomorrow, January 26, 2026. If you are a victim or a witness in a case that is set for trial this week, please report to the courthouse on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 9:00 AM.

01/07/2026

DEFENDANTS SENTENCED FOR VIOLENT FELONIES

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE MORGAN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

January 7, 2026 — Decatur, AL — District Attorney Scott Anderson announced today that three defendants were sentenced in the Circuit Court of Morgan County this week for violent felonies.

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SPENCER HARWELL

Spencer Harwell, 48 years old of Decatur, was sentenced this week for the murder of Frankie Smith and for trafficking in methamphetamine. Morgan County Circuit Judge Stephen F. Brown sentenced Harwell to eighty (80) years imprisonment in the Alabama Department of Corrections for the murder conviction and sixty (60) years imprisonment for the trafficking conviction. Those sentences will run concurrently. Harwell was convicted in October 2025. The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Scott Anderson and Assistant District Attorney Courtney Schellack.

On June 10, 2021, officers with the Decatur Police Department responded to a shooting call at Decatur Door Services on Highway 31 South. Upon arrival, officers located Harwell and Frankie Smith inside the building. Smith was suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Smith was transported to Decatur Morgan Hospital where he later died.

Detective Tony Vest with the Decatur Police Department led the investigation.

Harwell claimed that he was forced to kill Smith when Smith charged at Harwell with a tire iron. Evidence at trial showed that his assertion was not true. Prosecutors showed evidence that Harwell manipulated the scene following the shooting.

While investigating the murder, officers located a trafficking weight of methamphetamine in Harwell’s living quarters.

District Attorney Scott Anderson said “I was pleased with the sentence Judge Brown handed down. It was just and reflected the seriousness of the crimes for which Mr. Harwell was convicted.”
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LANCE CAMPBELL AND HANNAH CAMPBELL

A Hartselle mother and stepfather were sentenced to life imprisonment in the Alabama Department of Corrections today by Circuit Judge Charles Elliott. The two were convicted of Aggravated Child Abuse in December 2025. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Courtney Schellack and Kelly Cimino.

On May 30, 2021, a three year old child was brought to the emergency room at the Parkway campus of Decatur Morgan Hospital. The mother of the child, Hannah Campbell, claimed that the child had fallen down three steps and landed on concrete.

Medical staff at the hospital were suspicious as the child’s injuries did not appear consistent with the mother’s story. A nurse practitioner at the hospital realized that there was makeup on the child’s face, neck and arm; once the makeup was removed, multiple bruises were seen all over the child’s body.

Hospital staff notified Morgan County DHR. The child was transferred to Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham, where it was determined that the child suffered serious internal injuries that were life-threatening, including a lacerated pancreas and liver. The child required surgery and remained in the hospital for nearly a month.

The Hartselle Police Department was notified about the child’s injuries and began an investigation, led by Investigator Tania Burgess. Shortly after, both Hannah and her husband, Lance, were interviewed. Hannah lied to the hospital, the Department of Human Resources, and the police concerning the child’s injuries. Lance told the same lie to investigators before admitting that he was home with the child when the injuries occurred.

Ultimately, both Hannah and Lance were arrested for aggravated child abuse. All children were removed from the home in 2021 and have been placed in the custody of a relative.

Assistant District Attorney Kelly Cimino said “This child is going to have lifelong impacts from the abuse at the hands of her mother and stepfather. It is only fitting that these defendants have the rest of their lives in the Department of Corrections to think about what they did to their three year old child.”

Assistant District Attorney Courtney Schellack added, “Every day since this child was injured, the Campbells have been concerned with what would happen to them. Now they know. Anyone who hurts a child – or covers up for someone that did – knows now what justice looks like.”

12/08/2025

12/18/2025 UPDATE: Sentencing has been rescheduled for January 7, 2026.
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HARTSELLE MOTHER AND STEPFATHER CONVICTED OF AGGRAVATED CHILD ABUSE OF THREE YEAR OLD

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE MORGAN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

December 8, 2025 — Decatur, AL — A Hartselle mother and stepfather were convicted on Friday of Aggravated Child Abuse of a Child Under Six (6) Years of Age. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Courtney Schellack and Kelly Cimino. The case was presided over by Morgan County Circuit Judge Charles Elliott.

On May 30, 2021, a three-year-old child was brought to the emergency room at the Parkway campus of Decatur Morgan Hospital. The mother of the child, Hannah Campbell, claimed that the child had fallen down three steps and landed on concrete.

Medical staff at the hospital were suspicious as the child’s injuries did not appear consistent with the mother’s story. A nurse practitioner at the hospital realized that there was makeup on the child’s face, neck and arm; once the makeup was removed, multiple bruises were seen all over the child’s body.

Hospital staff notified Morgan County DHR. The child was transferred to Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham, where it was determined that the child suffered serious internal injuries that were life-threatening, including a lacerated pancreas and liver. The child required surgery and remained in the hospital for nearly a month.

The Hartselle Police Department was notified about the child’s injuries and began an investigation, led by Investigator Tania Burgess. Shortly after, both Hannah and her husband, Lance, were interviewed. Hannah lied to the hospital, the Department of Human Resources, and the police concerning the child’s injuries. Lance told the same lie to investigators before admitting that he was home with the child when the injuries occurred.

Ultimately, both Hannah and Lance were arrested for aggravated child abuse. All children were removed from the home in 2021 and have been placed in the custody of a relative.

Both defendants were convicted by a Morgan County jury following a week long trial. The jury deliberated for less than an hour.

After the verdict, Assistant District Attorney Kelly Cimino stated “The law doesn’t require perfection in our parenting, but it does require decency. The actions of Hannah and Lance Campbell fell well below that standard, and the jury held them accountable.”

Assistant District Attorney Courtney Schellack added “This child suffered life-threatening injuries at the hands of the Campbells. Instead of getting help, the Campbells waited a day before seeking medical attention. Before taking their three-year-old to the hospital, they made her sit in tremendous pain as her bruises were covered by makeup. They have spent every second worried about themselves. The jury saw through the excuses and gave that baby the justice she deserves.”

Both defendants are in the Morgan County Jail pending sentencing on February 11, 2026, where they are facing a maximum of life imprisonment in the Department of Corrections.

10/24/2025

TWO CONVICTED OF MURDER BY MORGAN COUNTY JURIES

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE MORGAN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

October 24, 2025 — Decatur, AL — District Attorney Scott Anderson announced today that two defendants were convicted by Morgan County juries this week.

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LOGAN DELP

Logan McKinley Delp, age 41 of Huntsville, was convicted of Capital Murder by a Morgan County jury yesterday, October 23, 2025. The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Garrick Vickery and Assistant District Attorney Joe Lewis. The trial was presided over by Circuit Judge Jennifer Howell.

On July 24, 2020, officers with the Hartselle Police Department were dispatched to a home on Dawson Street in reference to a welfare check. Anthony Larry Sheppard did not appear in court for a scheduled custody hearing, and his attorney requested that officers check on him.

Upon arrival, officers found that Sheppard’s storm door was shattered and his main door was ajar. Officers located Sheppard deceased with multiple gunshot wounds. During the course of the investigation, led by Investigator Tania Burgess with the Hartselle Police Department, it was determined that Delp was hired to kill Sheppard in order to prevent him from regaining custody of his child.

The jury deliberated for approximately twenty minutes before finding Delp guilty of capital murder for pecuniary gain and capital murder for shooting into a dwelling.

Delp was sentenced today to life imprisonment in the Alabama Department of Corrections without the possibility of parole.

Following the verdict, Chief Assistant District Attorney Garrick Vickery stated, “We're happy for the family of Larry Sheppard that the jury returned a guilty verdict of capital murder. This is a small step towards closure for the family, and we will continue to pursue justice for them as best we can."

Four other defendants were charged with capital murder in connection with Sheppard’s death; one of those defendants has pled guilty and three others remain pending trial.
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SPENCER HARWELL

Spencer Harwell, 48 years old of Decatur, was convicted today of murder and trafficking in methamphetamine by a Morgan County jury. The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Scott Anderson and Assistant District Attorney Courtney Schellack. The trial was presided over by Circuit Judge Stephen Brown.

On June 10, 2021, officers with the Decatur Police Department responded to a shooting call at Decatur Door Services on Highway 31 South. Upon arrival, officers located Harwell and Frankie Smith inside the building. Smith was suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Smith was transported to Decatur Morgan Hospital where he later died.

Detective Tony Vest with the Decatur Police Department led the investigation.

Harwell claimed that he was forced to kill Smith when Smith charged at Harwell with a tire iron. Evidence at trial showed that his assertion was not true. Prosecutors showed evidence that Harwell manipulated the scene following the shooting.

While investigating the murder, officers located a trafficking weight of methamphetamine in Harwell’s living quarters.

The jury in this case deliberated for less than three (3) hours before returning a guilty verdict. Harwell will be sentenced on December 16, 2025. Harwell is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison for each offense.

District Attorney Scott Anderson stated, “Justice has been a long time coming in this case but we’re glad to finally be able to give the family some closure. Regardless of the verdict, there’s never any winners in this kind of situation. We are grateful the jury saw the truth in this case.”