By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Two Brewton men — neither a stranger to state prison — were denied parole during recent hearings by the Alabama Board of Pardons & Paroles.
Ron Merrell Reid, who is serving his third drug-related stint behind state bars since 2011, and James Autrey Evans, who is in state prison for the third time since 2008, were each turned down in their respective bid for early releases.
Reid, currently housed at St. Clair Correctional Facility, was most recently sentenced to 20 years in 2018 after his conviction in Escambia County Circuit Court on five counts of distribution of a controlled substance. He had served five years, two months and 22 days on the date of his parole hearing.
The Brewton man was one of 16 people arrested during an operation carried out by Brewton police in 2017 that resulted in undercover buys of natural and synthetic marijuana, crack and powder cocaine and methamphetamine.
Reid had previously served all but six days of a 2-year sentence imposed in 2014 after his conviction on three counts of distribution of a controlled substance. He had been out of prison only briefly after having served all but five days of a 3-year sentence he was given in 2011 when he was convicted on one count of possession of a controlled substance and one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
His minimum release date without pardon or parole is June 30, 2032.
Evans is currently serving a 240-month sentence (20 years) after being convicted in 2019 of an unspecified “Class B Felony-Offense Against Person.” He had served just over three years on the date of his hearing.
He was convicted in 2015 of second-degree forgery and second-degree domestic violence and served all but three days of a 5-year sentence. He was also convicted in 2008 of first-degree theft and third-degree robbery but served only five years, one month and 11 days of a 10-year sentence before being paroled.
Currently housed at Limestone Correctional Facility, Evans will not be released from prison before September 3, 2034, unless he is granted a pardon or parole.