FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS ADVISORY
June 25, 2014
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Alabama Attorney General
Claire Haynes (334) 242-7351
Page 1 of 2
AG, CALHOUN DA ANNOUNCE SEX CRIMES INDICTMENTS;
AG REPORTS ON ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF COLD CASE UNIT
(MONTGOMERY)–Attorney General Luther Strange and Calhoun County District
Attorney Brian McVeigh announced indictments* in a cold case that involved nine sex crimes
against three young girls. Attorney General Strange also reported on the overall achievements
of the Cold Case Unit since its inception in 2008.
Evidence was presented to a Calhoun County grand jury, resulting in three indictments
on May 6 of Billy Wayne Cooper, 45, a former resident of Calhoun County. Cooper was served
notice of the indictments at the United States Military Detention Barracks in Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas where he is serving time for convictions of multiple sex crimes that occurred on United
States Army posts in the State of Washington and in Germany.
Specifically, the Calhoun County indictments charge Cooper with:
- second-degree sexual abuse of a victim less than 16 years old but more than 12 years old, a
class A misdemeanor: - second-degree attempted rape of a victim less than 16 years old but more than 12 years old,
a class C felony; - first-degree sexual abuse of a victim less than 12 years old, a class C felony;
- second degree sexual abuse of a victim less than 16 years old but more than 12 years old, a
class A misdemeanor; - first-degree sodomy of a victim less than 12 years old, a class A felony;
- first-degree rape of a victim less than 12 years old, a class A felony;
- second-degree sodomy of a victim less than 16 years old but more than 12 years old, a class
B felony; - second-degree rape of a victim less than 16 years old but more than 12 years old, a class B
felony; and - second-degree sexual abuse of a victim less than 16 years old but more than 12 years old, a
class A misdemeanor.
Bond for the current charges was set at $300,000. If convicted, Cooper faces penalties of up to
life imprisonment for each of the two class A felonies, two to 20 years for each of the two class B
felonies, and one to 10 years for the class C felonies and up to 365 days for the class A
misdemeanors.
These offenses occurred between 1999 and 2004 in multiple locations in Calhoun County,
Alabama. No further information about the investigation or about Cooper’s alleged crimes
other than what is stated in the indictment is available.
*An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov Page 2 of 2
The indictments against Cooper are the result of a joint investigation by Special Agents
of the Attorney General’s Cold Case Unit; Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Weems and the
Calhoun County District Attorney’s Office, and Agents of the U.S. Army Criminal
Investigations Division. These cases will be prosecuted by the Calhoun County District
Attorney’s Office.
“This case is an example of the excellent work performed on a regular basis by the Cold
Case Unit,” said Attorney General Strange. “Since beginning its work, the Cold Case Unit has
provided hope and delivered justice for many victims whose cases had long gone unsolved.”
The National Institute of Justice – Solving Cold Cases grant was provided by the U.S.
Department of Justice to start the Attorney General’s Cold Case Unit in 2008. The Cold Case
Unit targets unsolved or unresolved violent sexually motivated assaults and homicides in
which probative DNA exists. To date, Special Agents assigned to the Cold Case Unit have
reviewed more than 1,300 violent crime cases from throughout Alabama.
The cases that were investigated by the Cold Case Unit involve crimes that occurred
from November 1985 to November 2011, with indictments against 10 men for a total of 54
criminal counts. The cases include charges of rape, sodomy, robbery, burglary, sexual abuse,
enticing a child for immoral purposes, attempted murder and kidnapping. Three of those
indicted are allegedly serial rapists who committed multiple violent sex crimes, some of which
were across state lines. Because of the Cold Case Unit’s work, 19 female victims and one male
victim, who ranged in age from four to 51, now have seen those responsible for the crimes
against them brought to justice.
Cases accepted for consideration by the Cold Case Unit typically have probative DNA
evidence, with the DNA testing performed by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.
The Department of Forensic Sciences DNA Program has assisted almost 5,000 previously
unsolved investigations through a search of the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), and
has provided closure for victims of violent crime across Alabama and 40 different states.
“I applaud General Strange for his leadership with regard to the Cold Case Unit
initiative. As an internationally accredited laboratory system and one of the original members
of the CODIS pilot program more than 20 years ago, the Alabama Department of Forensic
Sciences (ADFS) has a responsibility to provide assistance to law enforcement agencies who
routinely look for guidance on matters concerning cutting edge forensic technologies,” ADFS
Director Michael Sparks said. “ADFS is proud to partner with Attorney General Luther Strange
and his office in this endeavor.”
The investigative talents of Special Agents within the Cold Case Unit, combined with
the scientific expertise in DNA testing provided by the Alabama Department of Forensic
Sciences, presents an opportunity for unsolved cases to be reopened and fully investigated.
Using state of the art DNA technology, evidence that had never been analyzed or was
previously analyzed using older technology is submitted to ADFS for analysis and the results
are provided in a timely manner. In addition to the Cold Cases that resulted in an arrest or
indictment, the Cold Case Unit is currently engaged in the active investigation of numerous
cold case homicides and numerous sexual assaults across the state.
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