Wendell III

04/08/2024

Wendell came to be here at the CAC for a forensic interview today. We couldn’t resist the chance to snap a picture of him posing with our blue ribbons and pinwheels. 💙

02/23/2024

So proud to have these hanging around our new Covington County Child Advocacy Center for all my friends to see when they come for a visit. Thank you Amber Michelle Myers for the great pics!

12/26/2023

08/21/2023

The HERO program is a statewide Certified Facility Dog Program to assist victims throughout the criminal process.

08/02/2023

Help me protect our children! Thank you to all my District Attorney friends around the state of Alabama that fight each day to make sure our kids are safe. Never give up.

We want to remind our parents about some other applications which could have a harmful impact on your child! Do you know what is on your child's phone?

07/27/2023

This is why I do what I do! I am thankful for the entire team of co-workers that care for, protect and fight for my friends. I am also thankful for the people that make my job possible HERO - Alabama's Courthouse Facility Dog Program. We will not stop fighting for my friends!

Opp resident, Stanley Henry “Hank” Hatcher, 42, pled guilty Thursday morning to two counts of So**my I before Circuit Judge Lex Short. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

The investigation into Hatcher began when Opp Police Department received a complaint of possible s*xual abuse of a child under 12 in October 2022. That investigation included interviews with multiple children, and a thorough interview with Hatcher. Through those interviews, investigators learned that Hatcher had performed oral s*x on a 10-year-old child on two separate occasions. Hatcher admitted his conduct to police in a recorded interview.

Assistant District Attorney Nikki Stephens prosecuted the case for the state. “One of the saddest things about this case was that, after Hatcher’s arrest, I had multiple former victims reach out to me from different jurisdictions about the abuses Hatcher committed against them. ‘He molested me and my brother’ and ‘he touched my daughter’ were all sentiments delivered by prior victims,” Stephens said.

District Attorney Walt Merrell praised the team of people that worked the case and their efforts. He added, “The hard part is knowing we can never truly make these child victims whole again, but we can make sure they know they’re protected from people like Hatcher in the future. And, that there are so many people willing to go the distance to hear them out, and seek justice on their behalf.”

Stephens expressed her thanks to investigators at the Opp Police Department, and particularly Lieutenant Ian McCulloch, to the Department of Human Resources, and the Covington County Child Advocacy Center staff. “Most of all, though, I want to thank my 10-year-old victim for her bravery in coming forward and sharing her story. She has been interviewed, testified before a grand jury, and never wavered. I hope all victims, children and adults alike, see her courage and find their strength to come forward as well,” Stephens commented.

Because of the age of the child victim, Hatcher will not be eligible for probation or parole, and cannot earn “good time,” so he will, by law, serve 25 actual years in prison. In addition, he will be required to register as a s*x offender for the remainder of his lifetime.

07/25/2023

I do my best to make everyone’s day brighter that I meet. Thankful for all the opportunities I get to serve my friends.

Our facility dog Wendell was serving our kids so well yesterday! He had to pop in and say hello 🐾🐶

02/24/2023

I always enjoy getting pictures from my friends! It always helps me to know I am doing my job. The month of Feb, which still isn’t over, has been a trying and exhausting month. To date I have assisted in Grand Jury proceedings and have assisted in 22 Forensic Interviews and several Forensic Medical exams. The day, nor the month is over yet and there is still more work to be done and love to be given.

We’re so thankful for Wendell and his ability to comfort and calm children during forensic interviews at the Escambia County CAC and the children being interviewed are too! ♥️

11/10/2022

What?? The news!! If I would have known I was being filmed I would have waved. Anyway, it is always a good day when you can brighten someone else’s day and bring a smile to their face. It was an exhausting day but I am so glad me and some other co-workers had the opportunity to help today. I love my job!!HERO - Alabama's Courthouse Facility Dog Program

10/28/2022

My most favorite thing in the world to do is meet new friends to work for. My next favorite thing to do is meet new people to with. I had that opportunity today as I “filled in” for my HERO partner Platty at the Baldwin County CAC. Platty had a full day in court so I was called in to go to his CAC and help some new friends! It was a long and exhausting and successful day, and week. So, to all my friends out there in FB land…..have a great weekend and I’m going to bed!!

10/18/2022

Doing what I do best!! Supporting, encouraging, loving and helping. So glad I got to help a new friend at the Conecuh County Courthouse this morning. Thanks to DA Todd Watson for giving me the chance to serve.

10/01/2022

Thank you sponors for your generosity and support to our children of Covington County!!

We have several Arena sponsors, almost all of whom have come back to us year after year. We are so grateful that they find value in the work the CAC does, and throw their support at the Rodeo each year. Big thank you going out to Pugh and Son, Inc., CANCER FREEZE, Performance Kwik Change, and CCB Community Bank!