NEWS RELEASE
December 19, 2019
Jordan Thomas Sentenced to Life in Prison
Montgomery County, Ala. – Jordan Thomas has been sentenced to serve life in prison for the 2012 murder of Dennis Johnson, District Attorney Daryl Bailey announced. Judge J.R. Gaines sentenced Thomas this week after a second Montgomery County jury found him guilty after his original conviction was overturned when the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals held that the jury charges given by the Judge in his first trial were incomplete. Thomas was originally sentenced by Judge Charles Price to 75 years upon his previous conviction.
The evidence at trial showed that the murder stemmed from an ongoing dispute between Thomas and the victim. Thomas approached and shot the victim while he was sitting on his friend’s porch before fleeing the scene and disposing of the murder weapon. Thomas again claimed self-defense and testified that he shot and killed the victim after the victim produced a gun and pointed it in his direction. Eyewitness testimony disputed that allegation and showed that the victim never produced any kind of weapon before he was shot.
District Attorney Daryl Bailey expressed his appreciation to Deputy District Attorneys Scott Green, Shanitra Jackson, Ben Gibbons, and MaryLou Bowdre for their work on this case. He also thanked Investigators Andrew Magnus, Terrance James, John Brown, and John Wilson for their tireless efforts in the investigation and prosecution of the case.
District Attorney Bailey said: “I am thankful that this dangerous criminal is once again off the streets of Montgomery. He will now be removed from our community for the rest of his life. Judge Gaines sent a strong message that this senseless violence in our community is unacceptable. The evidence proved that while awaiting his second trial he paid off witnesses and attempted to interfere with the prosecution of his case. Judge Gaines’ sentence demonstrates that we will neither accept, condone, nor tolerate attempts to hinder justice for victims in our county.”