After a 15-minute executive session at its March 17th meeting, the Russellville City Council unanimously approved the termination of Donald Andrew (Andy) Devaney from the Russellville Fire Department.
The council went into executive session along with RFD Chief Joe Mansell and, once the council returned to the meeting, City Attorney Eddie Beason said the executive session included discussion of the 'good name and character' of an individual but said the council took no action or vote during the 15-minute executive session.
Upon resuming the regular meeting, Mansell made a recommendation that Devaney, a lieutenant in the RFD, be terminated immediately. The motion was made by Councilman Jamie Harris to fire Devaney 'based on Chief Mansell's recommendation,' and seconded by Councilman Darren Woodruff. The motion carried unanimously.
After the meeting, Mansell declined to specify any reason for his recommendation to terminate Devaney.
“We've been directed to refer any questions to the city attorney,” Mansell told the FFP.
When asked if his recommendation was based on Devaney's March 14th arrest in Limestone County on six felony charges, Mansell again declined to answer.
As with any terminated employee of the city, Devaney will have a right to appeal the council's decision and ask for a hearing.
As of Monday night, Devaney remains in the Limestone County Jail on two counts of Human Trafficking First Degree, two counts of Electronic Solicitation of a Minor and two counts of Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act.
Devaney will have a bond hearing in Limestone County District Court Tuesday, March 18th at 1:30 p.m.
Due to the charges of Human Trafficking First Degree, the case is subject to Aniah's Law, a new law passed in 2021, which gives judges discretion with certain charges to deny bond. A conviction of Human Trafficking First Degree carries a minimum mandatory life sentence in Alabama.
The legislation was named after Aniah Blanchard, a 19-year-old college student who was kidnapped and killed in 2019 by a man already out on bond for kidnapping and attempted murder in an unrelated case.
The law is intended to keep violent offenders in jail while their charges are pending in order to protect potential future victims.
Devaney has no criminal history and these charges, although serious felony accusations, are his first involvement with the court system.
As with any defendant facing charges, Devaney remains innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Devaney was scheduled to work over the weekend, but obviously did not show up for his shift due to the charges in Limestone County.
According to the Limestone County Sheriff's Office, a child from another state who had been reported missing was located by a deputy in Limestone County on March 6th.
The child, a sheriff's spokesperson said, appeared to be a victim of sex trafficking after being lured online. The child was returned to her family safely.
Devaney is one of nine defendants arrested as a result of a sting operation that took place over a six-day period from March 9th through March 15th. It is unknown whether Devaney's charges are
related to the child who was located in Limestone County.
Six of those arrested were charged with Human Trafficking First Degree, Electronic Solicitation of a Child and Traveling to Meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act.
Three others, including Devaney, were charged with two counts of each offense in what the spokesperson called 'enhanced charges.'
Devaney steadily advanced through the ranks of his department and also served as an instructor working with aspiring firefighters.
Devaney was promoted in October 2023 to lieutenant from sergeant in the Russellville Fire Department. Devaney has served as an instructor at the Alabama Fire College and has assisted with the Fire Science class at Russellville High School.
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