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The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles denied parole to two Butler County petitioners in hearings held earlier this month.

Shernardo Simmons, 33, is currently housed in the Limestone Correctional Center, serving out a 12-year sentence for a February 2022 Butler County conviction for burglary in the third degree. He was denied parole in a hearing held March 5 and will have another chance at parole during his next hearing date set for March 2028.

Prior to his 2022 conviction, Simmons served just over two years for a 2018 sentence for distributing a controlled substance and burglary third. He also served time for 2013 and 2014 convictions for distributing a controlled substance.

The board heard 20 parole requests and 10 pardon petitions on March 5. Two parole petitions were granted and 18 were denied. The board granted six pardons and denied four.

The board met March 7 and denied parole to Victor Gregory Suggs, 58.

Suggs is held in the Easterling Correctional Center, serving a life sentence on charges out of Covington County along with lesser terms for Butler County convictions.

On February 10, 2003, Suggs was sentenced in Butler County for one year on a conviction of rape two and possession of a controlled substance. On August 7, 2003, Suggs was sentenced to 30 years for Butler County convictions of rape in the first degree and sodomy in the first degree.

In June 2008, Suggs was sentenced to a life sentence for Covington County convictions, one consecutive and one concurrent, for changes of rape and sodomy in the first degree. He also received two consecutive 10-year sentences for sexual abuse in the first degree and incest. 

Speaking on behalf of Suggs’ parole request was his son, Cody Suggs and his brother Donald Whitehur. Speaking against his parole were the victim, Meghan Everidge, the victim’s mother, Melissa Gensener, Victims of Crime and Leniency (VOCAL) representative Makayla Phifer, Attorney General’s Victims Services Officer India Eaves, Anna Findley with the Attorney General’s Office and Prosecutor Grace Jeter. 

The board set Suggs’ next hearing date for March 2029.

No paroles were granted on March 7. The board heard 16 petitions and denied them all. Five were continued to a later date.

The board also heard nine pardon requests, granting eight, denying one and continuing four.

Hearing minutes for March 5 and 7 may be accessed at www.paroles.alabama.gov/hearing-minutes/. To view inmate information, visit www.doc.alabama.gov/inmatesearch.