candidate

arrested

by theresa swope/News Editor

Uniontown –

City Council district 1 candidate Thomas Stapleton was arrested this week on charges of criminal mischief after he allegedly took political signs belonging to his opponent, James Vann.

Uniontown Police Chief Donald Rhodes said a witness told police they saw Stapleton and another subject taking the signs.

“We have not identified the other subject yet,” Rhodes said.

Stapleton is out on a $500 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 20.

Stapleton’s phone number has been changed to an unpublished number so he was not available for comment.

Man admits

sexual abuse charge

Another Uniontown resident was arrested July 31 on charges of sexual abuse, allegations he later admitted to, police said.

Sgt. Johnathan Cole said two children, ages 11 and 12, told their mother of an incident involving John C. Cowan. The mother informed police who promptly began an investigation of the 52-year-old.

“During my investigation, Mr. Cowan admitted to the charges,” Cole said.

Cowan is charged with two counts of sexual abuse, and was given a $10,000 bond on each count.

A court date has not yet been set in this case.

Meanwhile, a man believed to be a suspect in a July 9 homicide in Uniontown, is being held in the Uniontown jail on charges of receiving stolen property.

The body of an unidentified woman was found July 9 in an overgrown patch of grass behind the Nite Cats Convenience Store on County Road 53. No further information regarding the woman or how she died has been available.

Norman Woods, a 52-year-old Uniontown man, was arrested a short time later and charged with receiving stolen property after he was found in possession of a ring that had belonged to the dead woman.

Rhodes said the investigation is still open, and said he is awaiting information from the Alabama Bureau of Investigation and Department of Forensics.

“I’m waiting for ABI and forensics to finish their investigations to determine if additional charges will be filed,” he said.