Crime
7-year-old Noah Jovani dies after dog attack in Chilton County
CHILTON COUNTY, AL — The Chilton County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that the dogs involved in the tragic attack on a child near County Road 147, in the Calera area, have now been located and secured.
Chilton County Animal Control responded promptly and has taken custody of the animals.
The owner of the dogs is cooperating fully with investigators as the case remains under active investigation.
At approximately 6:10 p.m. on July 22, 2025, deputies responded to an emergency call regarding a serious dog attack.
Upon arrival, first responders discovered that 7-year-old Noah Jovani had sustained severe injuries as a result of an attack by one or more aggressive dogs.
The child was immediately transported for emergency medical care but sadly succumbed to his injuries.
Chilton County Animal Control was notified at the time and assisted at the scene.
Authorities initially reported that the dogs involved had not yet been secured.
As of the most recent update, the animals have been located and are now in the custody of Animal Control.
Investigators are working to determine all relevant details surrounding the attack, including whether the dogs were properly secured prior to the incident and whether any violations of local ordinances occurred.
“Our hearts are broken for the child and the family affected by this unimaginable loss. We are fully committed to conducting a thorough investigation to determine how this tragedy occurred and to help prevent something like this from ever happening again.”
The Chilton County Sheriff’s Office is reminding all residents to ensure that pets are properly contained and to follow local animal control regulations to protect the safety of the community.
Further updates will be released as the investigation progresses.
Anyone with information related to the incident is encouraged to contact the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office.
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.