Bill would eliminate YO status in cases of murder
MONTGOMERY — A local state representative has pre-filed a bill that would prevent someone 16 or older who is charged with murder or capital murder from obtaining youthful offender status.
Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Greenhill, said he was inspired to create the bill after seeing reports of murder cases in the state involving suspects who applied to be tried as a youthful offender.
He said a 2023 case in Dadeville that left four people dead and 30 injured and resulted in six arrests is among them, as is a 2015 Clay County shooting that killed 18-year-old Jolee Callan. Her ex-boyfriend, 20-year-old Loren Bunner, was initially granted youthful offender status and then denied the status. That resulted in a guilty plea and 52-year prison sentence.
Recently, the attorney for Cameron Phinizee, a 17-year-old Russellville student charged with felony Murder and firstdegree robbery, said his client will apply for youthful offender status. The youthful offender status hearing was set for Tuesday before Lauderdale County Circuit Court Judge Carole Medley.
Phinizee is charged with the death of Ryland Calvert, 13, on March 26 during what authorities said was a robbery attempt.
A Lauderdale County grand jury found Phinizee legally responsible for Calvert’s death since he was part of the robbery attempt that resulted in the death.
Phinizee is out on a $60,000 bond but must wear an ankle monitor.
Youthful offender status allows a suspect to not be tried as an adult, the records from the case are sealed, and punishments are more lenient than those who have adult status.
“Even if convicted of murder, the most they can sentence you to is three years,” Pettus said.
Murder is a Class A felony in Alabama, punishable by 10 years to life in prison for adult offenders. That can be upgraded to 20 years to life since the charge involves use of a deadly weapon.
Capital murder is punishable by life in prison without parole or death by lethal injection.
Those eligible for youthful offender status must be under 21 years old when the offense is committed.
Pettus said he filed a similar bill this past legislative session, but it did not reach the floor for a vote. He said it received House approval and Senate committee approval.
“It made it to the full Senate but the filibuster on the last day stopped us from getting to our bills,” he said.
The bill states someone 16 or older charged with murder or capital murder “shall be charged, arrested and tried as an adult.”
It states the proposed law would not apply if the initial charge is reduced to a lesser charge than murder.
The act would become effective on Oct. 1, 2026, if it is passed.
