Two impaired drivers involved in fatal wrecks have been sentenced along with a man who raped his mother-in-law and a prisoner who killed a fellow inmate.

Benjamin Samuel Cox, 32, of 8882 Beechwood Road has pleaded to manslaughter without promise of any agreement regarding sentencing, Limestone County District Attorney Kristi Valls said Thursday.

His case is among several that played out in Limestone County Court this week and last. Cox faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison when sentenced Dec. 10 by Circuit Judge James Woodroof Jr., Valls said.

A Limestone County grand jury had indicted him for reckless murder but he pleaded to the lesser charge.

Cox was driving east on Quinn Road on Feb. 20 when he collided with a vehicle headed north on Blackburn Road driven by Tammy Ruth Brooks, 38, of 15078 Oneal Road. Brooks died at the scene. Troopers charged Cox with DUI.



Steele gets 20 years

A man whose drunk driving led to a wreck that killed two people July 6, 2006, near Elkmont pleaded guilty to two counts of reckless manslaughter.

Donald Coleman Steele Jr. of 24135 Wooley Springs Road was accused of causing the deaths of Thomas Wigginton, 65, of Athens, a passenger ejected from Steele’s vehicle, and Kenneth Hodges, 64, of Elkmont, the driver of another vehicle. Steele collided with two other vehicles at the intersection of Mooresville and Thach roads in northeastern Limestone County. His blood-alcohol level at the time was .172. The legal limit is .08.

Steele was sentenced to 10 years for each fatality, which he will have to serve consecutively, Valls said.



Joines continued

The case of an Elkmont man indicted for reckless murder in connection with a fatal motorcycle wreck two years ago on Easter Ferry Road has been continued to Feb. 23, 2009, Valls said.

Jerry Allen Joines, 47, of 20974 Easter Ferry Road was scheduled to enter a plea Oct. 23 to a charge of murder by reckless operation of a motor vehicle but was granted a continuance.

Joines is accused of being intoxicated and causing the death of Randall Guy Barksdale, 49, of 20991 Edgewood Road on Aug. 2, 2006. Barksdale was killed when his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and Joines’ Dodge Ram pickup truck collided at the intersection of Easter Ferry and Cross Key roads in Limestone County.



Life for in-law assault

Tommy Wayne Butler has been sentenced to life in prison for first-degree robbery, first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy in connection with an attack on his in-laws.

Investigators said Butler became angry at his wife and stepchildren while camping at Cowford Campground in July 2007. He went to the home of his in-laws about 3 a.m. with his teenage nephew. While there, he attacked his father-in-law and raped his mother-in-law at knifepoint. Over the course of an hour, he tortured them, threatened to cut their throats and then left with their money and gasoline.

Along with the life sentence he will serve 15 years for probation revocation and pay $25,000 restitution, Valls said.



Life for prison murder

A sex offender who pleaded guilty to strangling a fellow inmate in the Limestone County Correctional Facility in 2006 has been sentenced to life in prison, Valls said.

Joseph Burns was serving time for rape, sodomy and theft when he murdered Peter Makres. He is now in Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer.



15 years for photos

A Toney man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for photographing a 7-year-old girl for pornographic purposes, records show.

Bradley Hudson, who had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to possession of pornographic material depicting a child under 17.

In June 2007, U.S. Fish and Wildlife officers raided Hudson’s home to investigate whether he was selling venomous snakes without a permit. His computer was seized and Limestone County authorities found the pornographic photo on his computer and arrested him.

He faces seven other charges for trading the snakes through interstate commerce.



Butler case continued

The case against the man accused of burning down the Butler building in Athens has been continued until Dec. 1, Valls said.

Samuel Keith Chambers is accused of setting the fire at the Market Street building in August 2007.

The building was owned by Chamber’ sister, Laurie Cannon, and husband Dr. Joe Cannon, who used it for storage.