CJ Robinson District Attorney – 19th Circuit
It has been a productive week for the 19th Circuit, and I wanted to commend our hard-working people who consistently show up prepared to do battle inside and outside of the courtroom. We now have 47 employees who work as one unit to seek the truth and pursue justice…and I am extremely proud of them.
AUTAUGA COUNTY:
Farren Jill Hudson was indicted in Autauga County in March of 2024 for Sodomy 1st. The victim is Hudson’s biological daughter and was under the age of twelve at the time of the abuse. Farren and her husband, Jason Hudson, both sexually abused the victim. The investigation began when law enforcement received a cyber tip that someone at the defendant’s address had accessed child pornography.
The Autauga County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) executed a search warrant of the Hudson residence and seized electronic devices belonging to Jason Hudson. The devices were analyzed by the ACSO and thousands of images of child pornography were located. Included in those images were photographs of Jason Hudson’s stepdaughters who resided with him and his wife, Farren. Jason was indicted for 75 counts of Possession of Child Pornography.
Jason and his attorney hired a digital forensic expert who reviewed the evidence and opined the images were planted on Jason’s devices by law enforcement. As a result of the accusation made by the defense, the District Attorney’s Office and the ACSO asked the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) to review the evidence. SBI analyzed the electronic devices with a more advanced software program and SBI, in addition to discrediting the accusation that law enforcement planted the evidence, was able to locate additional images and videos the ACSO had been unable to access. The images uncovered by SBI included videos depicting the female victim being sexually abused, sodomized, and raped by both Jason Hudson and Farren Hudson. A child forensic interview was conducted of the victim by Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center and the victim disclosed she had been sexually abused by her stepfather, Jason Hudson, and her mother, Farren Hudson.
Farren Hudson was arrested for Sodomy First Degree and the DA’s Office sought no bond under Aniah’s Law. After a hearing, Farren Hudson was ordered to be held in jail with no bond. On June 18, 2025, Farren Hudson pleaded guilty to Sodomy 1st. On July 22, 2025, Farren Hudson was sentenced to 30 years in prison by Circuit Judge Amanda Baxley. The victim spoke at the sentencing hearing and told about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her mom but said she refuses to be defined by that. The victim said now that she is away from her mom she has accomplished so many good things in her life, her school, and her church. And now she is thriving.
However, the nightmare is only half over for the victim. Jason Hudson is charged with Rape 1st, Sodomy 1st, Sex Abuse of a Child under 12, Incest, Production of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography. The case on Jason Hudson is set for trial October 20, 2025.
ELMORE COUNTY:
Indictments have begun being served on the individuals that were indicted by a recent Elmore County Grand Jury. The last grand jury heard over 250 cases and now those defendants will start appearing in court until their case(s) are over. One of those defendants taken into custody was John Norris, a local attorney, who was investigated by the Millbrook Police Department after they received a cyber tip from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children, which indicated that an individual in our jurisdiction was suspected of downloading and disseminating images depicting child pornography. As the investigation focused in on Norris, search warrants were obtained and executed at two locations in Millbrook. During the search warrant at the suspect’s residence and office, multiple electronic devices were seized as part of the investigation.
CHILTON COUNTY:
The State prosecuted Tekari McBride, Jr. for Theft of Property 1st and Possession of Forged Instrument 3rd. The victim in this case had posted a Polaris RZR for sale on Facebook and McBride gave him a cashier’s check for $29,500 and took possession of the Polaris RZR. The check turned out to be a forged instrument. This case was investigated by the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office. A jury of his peers found McBride guilty on both counts and he will be sentenced by Judge Patrick Pinkston at a later date.
PAROLE BOARD:
Members of the Office of the District Attorney were present at the Board of Pardons and Paroles to protest the release of Thomas Eccles, who two years ago pleaded guilty to Sexual Abuse 1st in Autauga County. Eccles was convicted of sexually abusing his adopted child who was six years old at the time. Eccles’ wife and another adopted son were present and spoke to the board requesting they parole Eccles so he could return to work to support his family. The DA’s office vehemently requested Eccles’ parole be denied and the Board chose to do deny parole. Eccles will remain in the custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections until he ends his sentence.
