FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
February 10, 2017
For More Information, contact:
Alice Martin
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Acting Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
State of Alabama
AG OFFICE ANNOUNCES COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
UPHOLDS MOBILE COUNTY MURDER CONVICTION
(MONTGOMERY) – Acting Attorney General Alice Martin announced that the
Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on February 3 upheld the murder conviction of
Arlando Raeshun Nichols. Nichols, 23, of Mobile, was convicted in December of 2015
for the murder of Zachary Alston.
Evidence was presented at trial that on the afternoon of May 11, 2014, Nichols
and Alston had a personal dispute regarding an ex-girlfriend of Alston. Without any
warning, Nichols fired two gunshots into Alston’s vehicle, killing him. Nichols then fled
the scene and was later found and arrested in the state of Georgia.
The case was prosecuted at trial by Mobile County District Attorney Ashley
Rich’s office. Nichols was sentenced to life imprisonment for his murder conviction.
He subsequently sought to have his conviction reversed on appeal.
The Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Section handled the case during the
appeals process, arguing for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to affirm the
conviction. The Court did so in its recent decision.
Acting Attorney General Martin commended Assistant Attorney General Yvonne
Saxon of the Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Section for her successful work in
this case.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
