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The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles denied parole petitions recently from an inmate serving time for a theft fraud conviction in Butler County.

On Feb. 20, the board voted to deny parole to James Edward Simmons, Jr., 48. He is the Hamilton Work Release Center, nine years for a theft conviction handed down Aug. 1, 2024.

The conviction was not Simmons’ first offense. Previously he served three years for unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle in Montgomery County in 2008, adding a concurrent one-year sentence for escape in 2009.

A reset date of August 2025 was scheduled for Simmons’ next parole hearing.

The board held 22 parole hearings Feb. 20, granting six and denying 16. The board also held ten hearings on pardon requests, granting nine and denying one.

The board also convened on Feb. 26 to hear parole petitions. Among them was Jeffery Wayne East, 37, granted parole for convictions from Randolph, Butler and Lee counties.

East is currently housed in the Limestone Correctional Facility serving time for 2022 convictions: 12 months for receiving stolen property third from Randolph County, burglary third and theft of property first from Butler County and possessing/receiving a controlled substance from Lee County.

Prior to the 2022 conviction, East served 25 months for theft of property first and burglary third, charges handed down by a Butler County court in 2017. East’s prison record also includes other Randolph County sentences: five years for theft and forgery and seven years for escape third in 2009, two-year sentences for 2008 theft and burglary and a 2005 theft of property first conviction.

On Feb. 26, the board heard 23 parole petitions, granting four and denying 19. The board also held 10 pardon hearings, granting seven and denying three.

Board minutes are available at www.paroles.alabama.gov/hearing-minutes/. Inmate information is available by visiting www.doc.alabama.gov/inmatesearch.aspx.