Hightower v. State

JAMES H. FAULKNER, Retired Justice.

In three separate indictments, Jessie Hightower was charged with three counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, in violation of § 13A-12-211, Code of Alabama 1975. The cases were consolidated for trial, and the jury found High-tower guilty as charged on all three counts. Hightower was sentenced in each case to 10 years’ imprisonment plus an additional 5 years’ mandatory imprisonment (pursuant to the Alabama “schoolyard statute” as codified at § 13A-12-250, Code of Alabama 1975). The three sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

The sole…