A Russellville man will remain in the Limestone County Jail without bond after a Limestone County District Judge denied bond after a lengthy hearing held April 1st.
Donald Andrew Devaney, a former City of Russellville firefighter, is charged with two counts of Human Trafficking First Degree, two counts of Traveling to Meet a Child for Immoral Purposes and two counts of Electronic Solicitation, all felonies.
Limestone County District Judge R. Gray West entered an order April 3rd denying Devaney a bond based on what the Court described as 'the extreme weight of the evidence against the Defendant' as well as the fact that Human Trafficking First Degree 'is a Class A felony which carries a range of punishment up to life in prison.'
The Court's order stated: The Court is satisfied by clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions of release will reasonable ensure the defendant's appearance in court or protect the safety of the victim and/or community.
A 2022 Alabama Law, known as Aniah's Law, allows a Court to deny bond for defendants charged with certain offenses, including Human Trafficking First Degree, if there's a finding the defendant poses a significant flight risk or risk to society if released.
The law is named after Aniah Blanchard, a college student who was kidnapped and murdered in 2019 by a man already out on bail for an unrelated kidnapping and attempted murder charge.
The law is applicable to offenses including murder, kidnapping, rape, Domestic Violence First Degree, arson, aggravated child abuse and other serious charges.
Prior to the law's passage, the only charge in Alabama that allowed a judge to deny bond was Capital Murder.
The April 1st hearing also served as a preliminary hearing for Devaney. At a preliminary hearing, the state must present sufficient evidence to show probable cause that the offense has been committed by the defendant. This is a much lower standard than proof beyond a reasonable doubt, which is required for a conviction.
The Court's April 3rd order found probable cause to support the six felony charges Devaney is facing.
The Court's order references evidence presented at the hearing that alleges Devaney responded to a website advertisement for the purpose of having sex. In follow up to that response, the defendant, according to the Court order, 'had a conversation with a decoy via text message. In the conversation, the defendant asked how much it would cost him for two girls. The decoy informed him that she had her friend with her and it would be $100 for an explicit sex act with the both of them.'
The Court's April 3rd order also states Devaney was told by the decoy that both girls were 15 years old, to which he asked if they 'were law enforcement or if this was a set up.
Devaney then allegedly traveled to Limestone County to the decoy residence where he was taken into custody with $503 in cash in his possession.
The cases will now be bound over to the Limestone County Circuit Court and will be presented to a Grand Jury.
As with any pending criminal charge, Devaney is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
A finding of probable cause at a preliminary hearing is completely irrelevant as to whether the defendant is ultimately found guilty of the charges.
Devaney is represented by Russellville attorney John McReynolds and Athens attorney John Totten.
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