Of the six charged in connection to a Cullman County District Attorney's investigation into the Hanceville Police Department, four suspects have pleaded not guilty.
The investigation, which ended in grand jury indictments, concluded the police department was rampant with corruption and being operated as a criminal enterprise.
Police Chief Jason Marlin, officers Cody Kelso, Eric Kelso, Jason Wilbanks, William Shellnutt and an officer's wife, Donna Kelso, were indicted on multiple charges.
Cody Alan Kelso is charged with two counts of computer tampering, solicitation to commit a controlled substance crime, use of office for personal gain and tampering with physical evidence.
Jason Scott Wilbanks is charged with two counts of computer tampering, two counts of use of office for personal gain, tampering with physical evidence and two counts of solicitation to commit a controlled substance crime.
Jason Shane Marlin, the police chief, is charged with two counts of failure to report ethics crime and tampering with physical evidence.
William Andrew Shellnutt is charged with tampering with physical evidence.
Eric Michael Kelso is charged with four counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and two counts of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute a controlled substance.
Donna Reid Kelso is charged with two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and two counts of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute a controlled substance.
William Shellnutt, Eric Kelso, Cody Kelso and Donna Kelso pleaded not guilty and waived their arraignments.
Eric Kelso's and Donna Kelso's trials are scheduled for August 18.
Shellnutt's and Cody Kelso's trials are scheduled for September 15.
Wilbanks and Marlin have not yet entered a plea. Their arraignments are scheduled for March 21.
The entire police department was placed on administrative leave, and the Cullman County Sheriff's Office temporarily took over operations.
The Hanceville City Council voted to rebuild the police department from scratch. The search for a new chief is underway.
This isn't the first time the city has been in the spotlight due to corruption. In 2023, then-mayor Kenneth Nail resigned after pleading guilty to 15 Class A misdemeanors - using his position for personal gain. He was sentenced to 15 years probation, 120 hours of community service, and pay $4,000 in restitution and a $2,500 fine for directing former Police Chief Bob Long and three former inmates to work on his home while on duty and having city employees travel and work for him while on duty.
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