Former Sheriff Blakely’s parole hearing continued after split decision
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WHNT) — The parole hearing for former Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely has been continued, after the state parole board could not reach a unanimous decision Thursday.
Blakely, who was the state’s longest-serving sheriff at the time of his conviction, was convicted on theft and ethics charges in 2021. He was sentenced to three years in county jail. Despite Blakely being sentenced to 3 years in a county jail back in 2021, he didn’t begin serving his sentence until after his direct appeals were denied.
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He has been held in the Franklin County Detention Center since February 24, 2023.
There were over 50 supporters for Blakely in attendance at the parole hearing on Thursday morning, but the long-time sheriff was not there.
The parole board is comprised of three members, however, only two of the members were present. One of those members voted yes and one voted no.
The Alabama Supreme Court rejected Blakely’s petition for an appeal of his conviction on February 10, 2023. Prior to that, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals also rejected his request to overturn his conviction and sentence — and his request for a rehearing.
Blakely’s attorneys filed a rule 32 petition following the beginning of his sentence, attempting another appeal of his conviction.
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In the Rule 32 petition, Blakely’s lawyers focused on retired Alabama Court of Appeals Judge Pamela Baschab’s status with the state bar association, saying her membership was not active when Blakely went on trial in July 2021. The filings argued Baschab was not legally qualified to preside over Blakely’s trial because she was not licensed to practice law.
That petition was denied by a judge in May 2023.
Judge Jolley said in his order dismissing the petition, “This Court declines Blakely’s invitation to graft onto the Constitution or the Code of Alabama an additional, unstated requirement that the Chief Justice may only appoint retired judges who maintain an active license to practice law with the Alabama State Bar. Because neither requires a retired judge—not least one with more than thirty years of unblemished service—to maintain an active license to practice law, Judge Baschab’s appointment was lawful and proper.”
Blakely was the sheriff in Limestone County for 38 years before a jury returned two guilty verdicts against him for misusing funds from his campaign account and funds from the sheriff’s office. Since Blakely was found guilty of two felony charges, he was removed from office -effective immediately.
By law, the Limestone County Coroner Mike West acted as Sheriff until a new one was appointed in September 2021.
Joshua McLaughlin, chief investigator in the Limestone County District Attorney’s Office at the time, was appointed in September to serve the remainder of Blakely’s term. McLaughlin has continued to serve in that role after winning the election in November 2022.
Blakely’s next parole hearing is set for April 11.
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