Montgomery, Alabama – Arville “Buddy” Thomas, 71, formally of Prattville, Alabama was sentenced to three years’ probation for storing and disposing of hazardous waste at his former company in Prattville, Alabama, without a permit, announced U.S. Attorney George L. Beck, Jr.  Thomas previously owned Deep South Plating, Inc. in Prattville.  Deep South Plating was a metal plating company that used heavy metals in liquid form.  These liquid metals created hazardous byproducts, including copper cyanide, nickel cyanide and sulfuric acid.  These and other hazardous byproducts were improperly stored in open vats and unsecured metal drums on the property.  Thomas abandoned the company in 2008 and moved to Tennessee.  When federal agents located Thomas in Tennessee, he admitted that the hazardous materials at Deep South Plating were improperly handled and stored before he abandoned his company. 

AUTAUGA COUNTY, AL (WSFA) - Authorities are searching for a suspect after a man says someone held him at knife point and attempted to steal his truck.

The Autauga County Sheriff's Office says a man hitched a ride with a pick-up truck driver in Prattville around 11:30 a.m. Monday. Once the truck was in the middle of a rural area just south of Posey's Crossroads, the hitchhiker pulled out a knife and attempted to steal the pick-up truck.

The driver of the truck turned the vehicle around. This spooked the suspect who turned and ran.

Authorities searched the area with Kilby K-9 officers as well as other law enforcement agencies, but they were not able to locate the suspect.

The Autauga County Sheriff's Office says no one was injured during this incident. Authorities are still working to develop leads in this case.

MONTGOMERY, AL - Attorney General Luther Strange announced that a youth minister facing charges in Madison and Cullman counties for sex crimes against children is due to be sentenced on July 31 for similar crimes of  which he has been convicted in Elmore County.

John A. Astorga was found guilty on April 11 by a jury in Elmore County Circuit Court for two counts of first-degree sexual abuse. During the trial, evidence that was presented by the Attorney General’s Office that included the testimony of three separate victims as well as the pastor of Bethel Assembly of God in Wetumpka where Astorga had been employed.

At his July 31 sentencing, Astorga will face a penalty of one year and one day to ten years imprisonment for each of the two counts, which are class C felonies.