Life for in-law assault

Tommy Wayne Butler has been sentenced to life in prison for first-degree robbery, first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy in connection with an attack on his in-laws.

Investigators said Butler became angry at his wife and stepchildren while camping at Cowford Campground in July 2007. He went to the home of his in-laws about 3 a.m. with his teenage nephew. While there, he attacked his father-in-law and raped his mother-in-law at knifepoint. Over the course of an hour, he tortured them, threatened to cut their throats and then left with their money and gasoline.

Along with the life sentence he will serve 15 years for probation revocation and pay $25,000 restitution, Valls said.

Life for prison murder

A sex offender who pleaded guilty to strangling a fellow inmate in the Limestone County Correctional Facility in 2006 has been sentenced to life in prison, Valls said.

Joseph Burns was serving time for rape, sodomy and theft when he murdered Peter Makres. He is now in Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer.

15 years for photos

A Toney man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for photographing a 7-year-old girl for pornographic purposes, records show.

Bradley Hudson, who had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to possession of pornographic material depicting a child under 17.

In June 2007, U.S. Fish and Wildlife officers raided Hudson’s home to investigate whether he was selling venomous snakes without a permit. His computer was seized and Limestone County authorities found the pornographic photo on his computer and arrested him.

He faces seven other charges for trading the snakes through interstate commerce.