Police: 'career criminals' come and go at Mobile Metro Jail

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich weighed-in on a problem FOX10 has been following closely: the 'revolving door' at Mobile Metro jail.

The District Attorney's office says there are steps that can be taken to end the cycle of criminal activity evident as criminals are released into the streets only to be booked back into jail.

“They're coming right back out,” said Rich. “They're going right back into our neighborhoods and they're reoffending and doing the same types of crimes.”

Thursday, Mobile Police expressed frustrations to FOX10, saying they spend a majority of their time chasing the same criminals.

Related: Repeat offenders plague Mobile Police

Cameron Bell, 28, was sentenced last week on dozens of vehicle burglary and credit card fraud charges while he was already out on bond.

The repeat offender, whom records show was given numerous chances to clean up his act and attend drug treatment programs. Instead, Bell entered a blind plea and threw himself at the mercy of the court.

Judge John Lockett sentenced Bell to 10 years in prison, split to serve only 90 days in jail. Rich said her office was outraged by the ruling; so was MPD.

“We plea bargain a lot of cases so I'm not trying to say the district attorneys office isn't responsible for some of the pleas that take place but ultimately in a blind plea situation like we had in this case-- it was up to the judge to determine the sentence,” said Rich.

Judge Lockett did not want to discuss his ruling or issue a statement. FOX10 waited outside his courtroom but he turned down a chance to speak about the case.

Mobile Police also mentioned Ted Snow, who’s been arrested at least 28 times for dozens of home burglary cases and receiving stolen property charges.

Snow was most recently arrested and released on March 15. He was then booked into jail two days after he made bond for an outstanding stolen property charge.

FOX10 was there as Snow was released again, less than two hours later. Snow is expected in court in April.

Mobile Police said he is currently under investigation for dozens of other home burglaries.

Rich said something needs to be done to reverse these trends.

“We need more prisons as far as I'm concerned,” she said. “As far as I'm concerned we can be like Arizona and just do tent city. I've been an advocate of that since the day I took over as district attorney. We need more prisons.”

Rich also suggested beefing up trade and skill workshops in jails so that inmates can be employable once they are released.

FOX10 will continue to dig up more information on both cases.

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