Alabama man accused of faking death pleads guilty to fraud

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama man accused of faking his death and fleeing to Thailand to avoid a trial on child sex charges has pleaded guilty to social security fraud and aggravated identity theft.

News outlets report 28-year-old Jackson Matthew Hall entered the plea Friday.

A U.S. Attorney’s Office statement says Hall was set to appear in court in two Alabama counties in 2016 on charges of child abuse, first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy of a child younger than 12.

It says he used another person’s identity to obtain a Social Security card, state driver’s license and U.S. passport to flee the country. Court records say fishermen found blood, clothes and Hall’s wallet along the Tennessee River. Authorities believed the items were staged. The next day, the stolen identity was used to fly through Chicago to Canada and Japan. From there, it was used to board a flight to Malaysia.

Authorities were alerted that December to possible sightings of Hall. A blog sent to investigators indicated that Hall, using a fake name but his own identifying photo, was applying for teaching positions in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. He was arrested the next year by Thai authorities and extradited to the U.S. that October.

Court records available online don’t clearly show the status of his child sex charges.

News

Athens makes a splash with groundbreaking of Sunrise Park

More Stories

Gov. Ivey signs a pair of senate bills into law

News

Commission approves agreement for roadway improvements at Pryor Field

More Stories

Alabama’s road conditions ranked second best in the United States

More Stories

Gov. Ivey commutes death sentence for 1991 Decatur murder prisoner

More Stories

42nd Alabama State Games registration opens

More Stories

Alabama Republican Party re-elects John Wahl as Chairman

More Stories

Warning siren failure in Limestone County

News

‘Great things ahead’: Mayor Marks shares insights on city’s future in annual address

More Stories

Grammy-nominated singer Angie Stone dies in Montgomery car crash

More Stories

Limestone County outdoor warning sirens malfunctioning

News

Melson disputes patient’s version of conversation regarding purchasing medical cannabis ‘off the street’

More Stories

Homeland Security recognizes ALEA as Partner of the Year

More Stories

Athens earns 2024 Tree City USA recognition from Arbor Day Foundation

More Stories

Teacher of the Year: Anna Thompson

News

‘Justice was served’: Limestone County jury finds Morgan County man guilty of murder after 10-day trial

News

Brookyln’s brave battle: The inspiring journey of a local kids life with spinal muscular atrophy

More Stories

Teacher of the Year: Jennie Fullmer

More Stories

Teacher of the Year: Kaitlin Sparkman

More Stories

Ardmore welcomes new family medicine center

More Stories

Hit and run claims life of Athens man

More Stories

LCSO arrest Athens man for infant abuse

News

Final Curtain Call: Beloved Band Director Dan Havely passes away

News

Calhoun Community College to go virtual due to impending weather