William Shane Ernest Lacks, 32, of Lacks’ Fish Camp in Cherokee County, and Emory Melvin Johnston, 43, 240 Cherokee County Road 106 in Leesburg, were charged in connection with the April 2003 death and robbery of Harold Brannon of Cherokee County.
The charges against Lacks and Johnston stem from the robbery and death of Brannon, 60, whose body was found in a vacant house on Crudup Road near Reece City in Etowah County on April 2, 2003.
According to the Etowah County Sheriff’s Department, Brannon apparently previously had purchased furniture from Lacks and Johnston, who had come to Etowah County to look at some furniture when the robbery and murder took place. Authorities were notified after Brannon failed to show up for work after his car was found abandoned at the mall in Gadsden.
Lacks and Johnston both were arrested a year after the robbery and murder, in April 2004, at which time they were charged with capital murder and held in the Etowah County Jail on no bond. Later, Lacks pleaded guilty to distributing prison contraband and was sent to prison. Johnston remained in the Etowah County jail.
The 16-month delay in handing down the indictment was the result of District Attorney Jimmie Harp awaiting additional forensic evidence to present to a grand jury. The evidence from the Department of Forensic Sciences was recently received by his office. This was the first grand jury to meet since the evidence was received by his office.
Lacks and Johnston if found guilty could be sentenced to life without parole or could get the death penalty
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