FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
March 20, 2013
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Alabama Attorney General
Page 1 of 1
AG ANNOUNCES ARREST OF GREENVILLE MAN
FOR SEX CRIMES AGAINST YOUNG RELATIVE
(MONTGOMERY)–Attorney General Luther Strange announced the arrest of a
Greenville man for sex crimes against a young relative. Dennis Mitchell, 40, was arrested on
March 15 by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office and taken to the Butler County Jail.
Attorney General Strange’s Office presented evidence to a Butler County grand jury
on March 11, resulting in Mitchell’s indictment*. Specifically, the indictment charges
Mitchell with first-degree rape by forcible compulsion, second-degree rape by someone
over the age of 16 of a victim between ages 12 and 16, second-degree sodomy by someone
over the age of 16 of a victim between ages 12 and 16, and incest.
A separate charge of first-degree rape is pending against Mitchell in a 2011
indictment resulting from evidence presented by the Butler County District Attorney’s
Office. Because the District Attorney’s Office later recused itself from this case, both
indictments are being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Criminal Trials Division.
The indictments involve separate instances involving the same victim, a young girl
who was between the ages of 12 and 14 years old at the time of the crimes.
No further information about the investigation or about Mitchell’s alleged crimes
other than that stated in the indictments may be released at this time.
If convicted, Mitchell faces a maximum penalty up to life imprisonment for each
count of first-degree rape, a class A felony; two to 20 years for each of the counts of second-
degree rape and second-degree sodomy, which are class B felonies; and one to 10 years for
the count of incest, which is a class C felony.
Attorney General Strange commended Assistant Attorneys General Ternisha Miles
and Kelly Hawkins Godwin of his Criminal Trials Division and Special Agents of his
Investigations Division. He also thanked the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, who made the
arrest on Friday.
*An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
–30–
501 Washington Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
