Crime
Jefferson County jail inmate Charlie Dunn dead after hang himself with bed sheet
JEFFERSON COUNTY, AL — A Jefferson County Jail inmate has died four days after he was discovered attempting to take his own life inside his jail cell.
Authorities have confirmed the death of 27-year-old Charlie James Dunn, a Bessemer resident, following a suicide attempt that involved hanging himself with a bed sheet.
According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, Dunn was found unresponsive in his cell at approximately 3:20 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2025.
Detention staff immediately intervened, and Dunn was transported to UAB Medical West for emergency treatment.
Despite medical efforts, Dunn was pronounced clinically dead at 3:52 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1. However, he was kept on life support temporarily, as he had elected to be an organ donor.
Jefferson County Circuit Judge David Carpenter ordered all pending criminal charges against Dunn formally dismissed on Thursday.
This legal action allowed his family to authorize organ donation and discontinue life-sustaining measures in accordance with his wishes.
Dunn had been booked into the Jefferson County Jail in Bessemer on April 14, facing charges of drug possession and receiving stolen property.
He was also under indictment in a separate case for attempted murder involving gunfire directed at a vehicle.
His death marks the second recent suicide-related fatality at the Bessemer jail facility, with both inmates succumbing to injuries at UAB Medical West following self-harm incidents.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has not commented on any potential policy reviews or procedural changes following these incidents. The matter remains under internal investigation.
Support resources are being made available to jail staff and inmates in the aftermath of the incident.
Crime
Former Texas Worship Minister and Christian Musician Jon Sheptock Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A married Christian musician and former worship minister who once performed at a rally for former President Donald Trump has been arrested on multiple child sexual abuse material (CSAM) charges, authorities confirmed.
According to officials, Jon Sheptock, a former minister at First Montgomery Baptist Church, was taken into custody on September 26 by detectives from the Montgomery County Constable’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Unit.
He faces charges of possession and production of child pornography following a detailed investigation into allegations of long-term misconduct.
The arrest was based on testimony from a woman who alleged that Sheptock stole a photograph of her approximately nine years ago, when she was 17 years old.
The victim told investigators that after sending her the image, Sheptock demanded explicit photographs and later sent her a video depicting a violent assault, warning that he “did not want that to happen to her.”
Court records further indicate that Sheptock showed the victim nude images of both adults and minors on his computer.
Investigators allege that the misconduct continued as recently as October 2023, when Sheptock reportedly sent a text message to the victim containing a nude image of young girls.
Before his arrest, Sheptock was widely known as a Christian recording artist and motivational speaker.
His now-deleted website biography stated that he was born without arms and with one leg shorter than the other, yet went on to describe himself as a “thriving Christian recording artist and speaker.” He has been married for 26 years and is the father of three daughters.
In a public statement, First Montgomery Baptist Church confirmed that Sheptock was immediately removed from all ministry responsibilities following his arrest.
The church emphasized that Sheptock did not hold any position involving direct contact with children, and there is no indication that minors associated with the church were involved or affected.
Sheptock gained wider public attention in January 2022, when he performed the national anthem at a rally for then-President Donald Trump, according to The Independent.
If convicted, Sheptock faces a potential prison sentence ranging from two to twenty years.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are encouraging anyone with additional information to contact the Montgomery County Constable’s Office Human Traffic.