The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles saw nine prisoners from crimes in Elmore County come before it last month. Of those, seven will remain in prison after their parole was denied.
Tracy Fernard Woods, 62, of Tuscaloosa and Woody Berry, 66, of Birmingham are being released from prison early.
• Woods had served 17 years of a 20 year prison sentence handed down to him for a Tuscaloosa County conviction for first-degree theft in 2007. He was also sentenced in 2014 to 15 years for an escape conviction in Elmore County.
He was last incarcerated at the Mobile Work Release. The parole board heard from one supporter for Woods’ release. He must wear a GPS monitor and attend AA.
• Berry was serving a life in prison sentence for a 1991 receiving stolen property conviction out of Jefferson County and a 1993 Elmore County conviction for escape.
Berry was last incarcerated at the Bibb County Correctional Facility. He must complete the Perry County Probation/Parole Reentry Education Program, wear a GPS ankle monitor and register with Alabama Experience.
• Mary K. Dixon, 57, of Columbiana was denied parole. She is currently incarcerated at the Alabama Therapeutic Educational Facility.
Dixon is serving 96 months in prison for a March 2023 Elmore County conviction for four counts of theft.
• Hallee Ann McLeod, 37, of Wetumpka was denied parole for her 2016 aggravated child abuse conviction. She has served nine years and a month of a 20 year prison sentence at Tutwiler.
McLeod was arrested in September 2015 after her 4-year-old son was found unresponsive and suffering from injuries in the backseat of her boyfriend's vehicle in Panama City, FL.
Bay County, FL deputies found the child under a blanket with his eyes open, dried blood on his lips and a laceration on his head. There was also a bag containing several loaded handguns next to him. Investigators determined the child had received the injuries in Elmore County.
McLeod pleaded guilty in Elmore County to aggravated child abuse after she was charged with chemical endangerment of a child.
According to parole hearing minutes a family member and another advocate spoke in favor of her release. The Elmore County District Attorney’s Office, the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and a victim’s advocacy group spoke against her release.
• Travonte Keon Butler, 32, of Tallassee was denied parole. He has served 15 years of a 20 year prison sentence. While in prison Butler pleaded guilty to a 2019 reckless manslaughter charge and sentenced to 15 years.
According to parole hearing minutes a family member spoke in favor of his release and a victim’s advocacy group and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office spoke against his early release.
Butler is currently incarcerated at Limestone Correctional Facility.
• Timothy Dale Leatherman, 51, of Phenix City was denied parole. He is currently serving a life sentence following a 1994 Lee County first-degree robbery conviction. While he was incarcerated in Elmore County in 2005 he was convicted of promoting prison contraband and sentenced to two years.
Leatherman is currently incarcerated at Fountain Correctional Center.
• Irilmoskomazze Washington, 66, of Millbrook has served 15 years of a 20 year prison sentence following a 2009 Elmore County conviction for attempted murder.
According to parole board hearing minutes, a victim advocacy group, the Elmore County District Attorney’s Office and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office spoke against his release.
Washington is currently incarcerated at the North Alabama Community Work Center.
• Elliot James Boyd, 69, of Montgomery was denied early release from prison. Boyd has served 38 years and six months of a 60 year sentence for assault out of Montgomery County.
Had previously served 20 years for manslaughter. Also served a year for a 1987 burglary Elmore county burglary conviction.
Boyd is currently incarcerated at the Red Eagle Work Center.
• Billy Ray Mercer Jr. 54, of Millbrook has served seven months of a 45 month prison sentence
for a 2024 Elmore County conviction of distributing a controlled substance. He was denied parole. Mercer has a 2023 Elmore County conviction for possession of a controlled substance.
He is currently incarcerated at the Loxley Community Work Center.