Nodine returning to the Gulf Coast

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - It appears that Steve Nodine will be back on the Gulf Coast by mid-March.

"The hold will be released today, and that will allow Nodine to go to a federal halfway house," said Defense Attorney Pascal Bruijn.

A hearing was held to ask Judge Charles Partin to approve an order to the sheriff to  release the hold on Nodine. The judge approved the order, even with Special Prosecutor David Whetstone arguing it was special treatment.

"My problem was with the sheriff approving that document because it was not witnessed, and he was not in the custody of the sheriff. We've never done that before. My position was we should not treat Mr. Nodine any better than any other citizen or any worse. The process was to have the court review it to determine if everything was in order and the court did approve it," Whetstone said.  

Nodine is currently serving time in a federal facility in Miami. His sentence for a federal gun charge is set to expire at the end of April.

Nodine will then have to go through a retrial for the murder of Angel Downs. The first trial ended with the jury deadlocked on murder and stalking charges.

Attorneys on both sides said the retrial could start in August.

"We've made some real progress. We're actually meeting with investigators this afternoon relating to new evidence we're reviewing," Whetstone said.

The defense said it's waiting on their client's release to put the finishing touches on their argument.

Both sides said they want to move as quickly as possible.

Bruijn added that Nodine is currently looking to reside in Mobile after he is released.