On Wednesday, in U.S. District Court, there were 21 criminal informations and seven indictments filed charging illegal sexual contact, public lewdness and indecent exposure at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. From July 20 through July 23, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Alabama State Conservation officers conducted a covert operation to curtail illegal activity in areas of the refuge that had generated numerous complaints from citizens. The refuge is an area within the special territorial jurisdiction of the U.S. Government.

“The Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is a place intended for public enjoyment through the appreciation of wildlife and nature in general,” said U.S. Attorney Alice H. Martin.  “It is not, and will not be used as a place for public lewdness, public indecency or perverted acts by the public. These covert indecency roundup efforts will continue.”   Those charged by indictment filed Wednesday are:

• Timothy Wayne Gentle, 35, Hackleburg, charged with one felony count of knowingly engaging in sexual contact.

• Anthony Jerome Gentry, 59, Huntsville, charged with one felony count of knowingly engaging in sexual contact.

• Thomas Holland Jr., 82, of Decatur, charged with one felony count of knowingly engaging in sexual contact, and one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure.

• Gary Carlton Huckaby, 68, Huntsville, charged with one felony count of knowingly engaging in sexual contact, and one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure.

• Larry Keith Mathews, 52, Decatur, charged with one felony count of knowingly engaging in sexual conduct.

• Gradson L. Tanner, 48, of Hartselle, charged with one felony count of knowingly engaging in sexual contact, and one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure.

• Byron L. Roberts, 42, Hartselle, charged with one count of forcibly assaulting or interfering with federal refuge officers during official duty, and one count of indecent exposure. Roberts faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison for assault or interfering with federal officers in addition to one year for indecent exposure on the premises of the refuge.

Those charged with felony counts of engaging in sexual contact face a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment. The maximum penalty for indecent exposure is one year imprisonment. All defendants face additional federal fines up to $250,000 and supervised release time of up to one year. Arraignment for those indicted will be October 12.

Those charged in Criminal Informations filed in U.S. District Court on the Central Violations Bureau (CVB) Docket include:

• Angela K. Lyle, 46, Huntsville, charged with one count misdemeanor indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• Leonard S. Baker, 28, Madison, charged with one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• Jackie D. Bowden, 34, Taft, Tenn., charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure, and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• Walter E. Brannan, 47, Hartselle, charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• Julian B. Burnett, 54, Decatur, charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• Anthony D. Busch, 39, Huntsville, charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• Anthony P. Carney, 36, Decatur, charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• Robert J. Fishcher, 46, Harvest, charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• Charles C. Gentry, 43, Crane Hill, charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• William M. Griffin, 53, Cullman, charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• Ed W. Harris, 60, Elorna, Tenn., charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• Michael R. Hollis, 48, Decatur, charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• John Wayne Kelley Jr., 48, Toney, charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• Danial L. Kilbourn, 44, Harvest, charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• Jeffery A. Mauk, 50, Huntsville, charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• Jimmy A. Meares, 62, Sommerville, charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• Christopher S. Myrick, 39, Huntsville, charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• Jimmie D. Parvin, 52, Huntsville, charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• Alan B. Perkins, 42, Madison, charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• Ronnie Roedel, 59, Tanner, charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

• Hamilton H. Snow, 61, Scottsboro, charged with one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and one misdemeanor count of public lewdness.

Those convicted of misdemeanor charges could face up to a year imprisonment, along with criminal fines. The Defendants charged in criminal informations will appear in federal court on October 17.

“The Refuge is protected by Federal Refuge officers, who are routinely policing the areas to make them safe and enjoyable for the law abiding public,” said Martin.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David H. Estes is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the U.S. Government. An indictment contains only charges; a defendant is presumed innocent until proved guilty.