FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS ADVISORY
August 26, 2014
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Alabama Attorney General
Claire Haynes (334) 242-7351
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AG Announces Court of Criminal Appeals Upholds Three
Montgomery County Murder Convictions
(MONTGOMERY) -Attorney General Luther Strange announced that the
Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday upheld the murder convictions of Karvis
Lamar Dennis, Angelo Jermon Frazier and Milas Jason Smith.
Karvis Lamar Dennis, 31, of Shorter, was convicted in the Montgomery County
Circuit Court in October 2013 for the murder of Byron Tubner. He was sentenced to 22
years imprisonment.
Evidence presented at Dennis’ trial stated that around 11p.m. on October 12,
2012, gunshots were heard by several neighbors in the Gladlane Estates area of
Montgomery County. Testimony established that while a witness was at his home, he
heard someone outside saying, “I’m shot. Help me” and that he saw a man, who was
later identified as 17-year old Byron Tubner, staggering and falling across the street. At
that time, a cream-colored car sped away from the scene. Tubner had a gunshot wound
to his side. Police found no weapon on Tubner’s person or anywhere around him.
Dennis’ fiancÈe testified that Tubner had stolen a gun belonging to Dennis from her,
and she and Dennis were attempting to get it back when the incident occurred. Dennis’
fiancÈ testified that Tubner pointed his gun at Dennis before Dennis fired the gunshot
that hit Tubner. Dennis admitted to police that he shot Tubner.
Former Alabama Corrections Officer, Angelo Jermon Frazier, 33, of Grady, was
convicted in the Montgomery County Circuit Court in January 2013 for the murder of
David Stinson. He was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.
Evidence presented at Frazier’s trial stated that on January 8, 2011, friends and
family were gathered in Grady, Alabama, to celebrate Frazier’s grandmother’s birthday.
Stinson, who had been in a relationship with Frazier’s mother, Teresa Foster, was at the
party. Frazier was angry with Stinson’s presence at the party because Stinson took
money from Foster, told Foster what she could and could not do, had been using
Foster’s car and told her that she could not have it back. Later, Frazier and Stinson
began arguing outside. The only evidence offered at trial about the shooting was
Frazier’s video-taped statement to law enforcement. In his video-taped statement,
Frazier claimed that Stinson kept “talking crazy” and coming at him. Frazier stated that
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Stinson “bowed up” multiple times, so he fired one shot at Stinson’s legs to get him to
back off. According to Frazier, Stinson came at him again, so he fired a second shot at
Stinson’s legs, at which point Stinson fell to the ground but was still alive. Frazier also
told investigators that he did not know how many shots he fired, but he knew he fired
at least two shots. After shooting Stinson, Frazier immediately went back into the
house. Frazier testified that he waited until the first officers arrived but when he heard
Stinson was dead he became “scared” and immediately left.
Milas Jason Smith, 39, of Montgomery, was convicted in the Montgomery
County Circuit Court in August 2013 for the murder of David Hall. He was sentenced
to 35 years imprisonment.
Evidence presented at Smith’s trial stated that around 2 p.m. on November 19,
2010, David “D.J.” Hall, the victim, and his cousin, Charles Hall, were walking up Lake
Street. While the two were walking, Smith pulled onto Sharp Street, and ran through an
alley toward Ross Street with a gun in his hand. A short time later, Smith began
shooting multiple rounds at both David Hall and Charles Hall. Law enforcement
recovered 11 shell casings from a nine-millimeter Luger from the scene. Charles Hall
fired his .40 caliber pistol about three times, but David Hall was unarmed. After he
returned gunfire, Charles Hall turned around and saw David Hall lying dead with a
gunshot wound to the head. Meanwhile, Smith ran back to his vehicle and fled the
scene. Testimony indicated that Smith previously had a “beef” with David Hall.
The cases were prosecuted at trial by Montgomery County District Attorney
Daryl Bailey’s office and former District Attorney Ellen Brooks’ office. Each defendant
subsequently sought to have his conviction reversed on appeal.
The Attorney General’s Appeals Division handled the cases during the appeals
process, arguing for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to affirm the convictions.
The Court did so in decisions issued on Friday.
Attorney General Strange commended Assistant Attorneys General of his
Appeals Division David Bjurberg, Division Chief, who handled the Dennis case; Jack
Willis, who handled the Frazier case; and Yvonne Saxon, who handled the Smith case.
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